Alligator

Love ‘em or hate ‘em, they’re an important part of coastal Louisiana’s ecosystems. These scaly predators keep animal populations in check. Although alligators are a common sight now in Louisiana’s marshes and bayous, it wasn’t always that way. Alligators were listed as an endangered species in 1967. Due to local, state and federal protections, however, the American Alligator population is back to booming, with the largest numbers in Louisiana and Florida, one million in each state. While alligator populations were threatened by overhunting in the early 20th century, alligators are now threatened by habitat loss, especially in coastal Louisiana. Habitat restoration projects like sediment diversions, which allow the Mississippi River’s sediment to build land in marshes, can help stabilize the population. Diversions like Davis Pond and Mardi Gras Pass are already experiencing thriving alligator populations.