Crocodiles part 4: American Alligator (continued)

In early summer, female American alligators build their nests - piles of mud, grass and branches - on dikes, lakeshores, and riverbanks. Most, but not all, females are good mothers: they protect the nest, carry hatchlings to the water, and stay with them for months or even years.

Riding on mommy's head, Corkscrew Wildlife Sanctuary, Florida.

Baby American alligator, Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge, Florida.

But some females neglect their children. Once the eggs are laid, they move off to dance, mate again, and lay a second clutch. Abandoned baby, ENP, Florida. Abandoned babies suffer high mortality rate - everybody from fire ants to large alligators feeds on them.

Baby American alligator, Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge, Florida.

Baby alligators, Lake Kissimmee, State Park, Florida.

It's not uncommon to see babies of different age in juvenile pods. CWS, Florida.

The best chance of survival for abandoned babies is to join another female's pod. Most mothers would accept newcomers, even if they differ in size from their own offspring.

Males grow faster than females, and visibly outgrow them by the age of 3. LKSP, Florida.

Yearling alligators, Fakahatchee Strand National Preserve, Florida.

Baby alligator, ENP, Florida.

If caught, babies emit distress calls. Even though adults would sometimes eat a baby, any gator would valiantly defend any baby that gives a distress call.

Baby alligator, ENP, Florida.

Baby alligator hiding in the forest during drought. ENP, Florida.

Great white egret with a baby alligator. ENP, Florida.

Alligator migrating across dry prairies during drought. This animal had to cross 8 km of dry land. ENP, Florida.

Babies are hunted by many carnivores, but large adults have no predators except humans. Tumucua Indians hunting alligators. A sketch by Jacques le Moyne, c. 1580. They also suffer from parasites, and sometimes die during droughts and hurricanes.

Alligator leech (Placobdella multilineata), a common parasite of alligators. Holey Lake Wildlife Area, Florida.

Juvenile alligator, Cape Canaveral, Florida.

Part 5: Chinese Alligator

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