The American Alligator is one of the largest North American reptiles. This species is native to the South-East United States, where it inhabits wetlands on the Atlantic coast from North Carolina to Florida, and in the Northern Gulf of Mexico west to Texas (Scott 2004). Alligators mostly inhabit marshes and swamps, but can also be found in rivers, streams, lakes, and ponds. Although they cannot survive in seawater, they do tolerate brackish water and venture into salt marshes, mangrove swamps, and other estuarine habitats (Scott 2004).

Adults and subadult alligators prey on a variety of aquatic organism including fish, crabs, snakes, turtles, mammals, birds, and other alligators (Jensen et al. 2008). Juveniles eat insects, amphibians, crayfish, molluscs and small fish (Jensen et al. 2008, Scott 2004).