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CAUSE OF DEATH: From hunting to habitat loss and contamination from pesticides and fertilizers, humans, unfortunately, cause many alligator deaths. Alligators can also be killed by other gators, illness, or die of old age. Some 80 percent of young alligators fall victim to predators such as birds, raccoons, bobcats, otters, snakes, large bass and larger alligators. Adult alligators are apex predators. Alligators rarely get sick so the death rate from illness is lower. When mate-ready males come into contact, the results can be gruesome. During the mating season, they can be vicious fighters as they compete to secure available females and territory.
COMPETITION: Burmese pythons compete directly with the top predators in the Everglades ecosystem, such as this American alligator. Alligators and sharks compete for the same food sources. Alligators compete with each other for mates. The burmese python is an invasive species and they take away from the alligators food supply and are known to kill the alligators.
IUCN RATING:
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Roughly 1.25 million alligators live in the state of Florida.
The American alligator is a rare success story of an endangered animal not only saved from extinction but now thriving. State and federal protections, habitat preservation efforts, and reduced demand for alligator products have improved the species' wild population
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