How does alligators mate

While courtship routines may last hours, copulation itself is very short: usually less than 30 seconds. A female alligator builds her nest by mounding up mud and vegetation several feet high.

After mating, she uses her back legs to make a bowl-shaped depression at the top of the nest mound. She then lays anywhere between 20 to 50 eggs within and covers them with dirt and leaves. The temperature in the nest determines whether the babies develop as males or females. Mother gators stay near their nests for the full incubation period, which lasts around 65 days. When the young are ready to hatch, they emit calls from inside the eggs. The mother then removes the dirt and vegetation from the top of her mound, and the hatchlings slowly emerge from the eggs.

The mother will carry the babies in her mouth to the edge of the water and gently drop them in. The baby alligators form a pod and stay close to each other, and to their mother, for at least a year. This article was written by a professional writer, copy edited and fact checked through a multi-point auditing system, in efforts to ensure our readers only receive the best information.

To submit your questions or ideas, or to simply learn more, see our about us page: link below. Updated April 19, Warm spring weather means alligators are more active and more visible, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission says. Rising temperatures increase an alligator's metabolism, which means they begin seeking prey, according to FWC. It also means they'll be observed basking in the sun as they regulate their body temperature. FWC warns that although alligator bite incidents resulting in serious injury are rare, keep your distance.

FWC also warns residents and visitors to never feed an alligator. It's not only dangerous, it's illegal. Feeding them can lead the animals to overcome their natural wariness of people and teach them to associate people with food.

Males begin by bellowing above water, while producing low-frequency infrasound, which humans cannot hear. Males may also slap their snouts on the water, blow water from their noses or perform certain arched postures. At closer ranges, they may release an oily musk, which floats on the surface of the water, to further entice the female.

Though the male is leading the dance , the female is participating with her own set of auditory, visual and olfactory signals during this time. The pair is in constant communication, Britton said.