Are there alligators in Virginia Beach? (2023)

Can alligators survive in the Chesapeake Bay?

Adult alligators can spend time in brackish waters where food resources such as blue crabs are plentiful, said alligator biologist Alicia Davis of North Carolina's Wildlife Resources Commission. “However, the Chesapeake Bay is too far north to support alligator populations.

The climatic conditions we see today have been replicated numerous times in the last hundred thousand years or so, with no sign of an alligator population ever colonizing what is now Virginia. Even the closest populations, such as those at MMSP, exhibit signs of stress and certainly aren't breeding.

Alligators are most active between dusk and dawn, so plan accordingly to reduce the chances of running into them.

Alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) are living just south of Dismal Swamp in Merchants Millpond State Park, North Carolina, and at Kitty Hawk. None live naturally in Virginia - yet.

Do not allow your dogs or children to swim in waters inhabited by alligators, or to drink or play at the water's edge. To an alligator, a splash potentially means a food source is in the water. It is best to avoid swimming in areas that are known habitats for large alligators but at the least, never swim alone.

There are many things you may encounter when swimming in the ocean. Alligators probably aren't one of them. While alligators can tolerate salt water for a few hours or even days, they are primarily freshwater animals, living in swampy areas, rivers, streams, lakes, and ponds.

Unlike their relatives the crocodiles, alligators don't have salt glands and therefore can't survive full-time in salt water. They move back and forth between marine and freshwater ecosystems to rebalance their salt levels -- and to feed.

"Lake Okeechobee has the most alligators, due to its size and availability of suitable habitat," an FWC spokesperson said. That lake has about 30,000 alligators, but it's almost 30 times larger than Lake Jesup.

American alligators can be found in the coastal wetlands of the U.S. Southeast, as far north as North Carolina and as far west as eastern Texas. Their range extends down to southern Florida and includes the Everglades.

Scour the Shore

Since alligators spend most of their time sunbathing on the shores, there are often telltale signs of their presence. Some of these markings might include large indentations or gouges in the ground and sliding marks where they reentered the water.

How far should you stay away from an alligator?

Retreat: Keep 30 feet away from alligators at all times. If you get too close, back away slowly. Do not assume that alligators are slow and sluggish. They are extremely quick and agile and will defend themselves when cornered.

Running away is a good option and a distance of around 20 or 30 feet is usually all it takes to get safely away from an alligator. "They are not made for running after prey," he said. Making a lot of noise can also scare off a gator before any attack begins.

Virginia Beach is perhaps the most famous in the state. It is located in the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of Chesapeake Bay. The water here is warm enough to swim in during the summer months, and many visitors are attracted to its long, sandy coast. Lifeguards can also be found at this beach during the peak season.

As the whales settle into their home away from home in Virginia Beach, they are sharing the waters with many other species, including bottlenose dolphins, sea turtles, spot minke whales, harbor seals, and critically endangered North Atlantic right whale. Winter is the peak season for whale watching in Virginia Beach.

In fact, you can swim in Virginia Beach all year! We even have a Polar Plunge in February! However, keep in mind, if you are not swimming during the peak tourist season, the lifeguard towers may not be on the beach in all of their locations for added safety.

A Florida family got a massive surprise when they found a 550-pound alligator in their swimming pool, according to a Tuesday post from the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office. Authorities said the nearly 11-foot-long gator tore through the family's screen in search of cool water.

If you can escape on land, run away in a straight line. Experts debunk the advice to zig-zag. Gators can move really fast on land, but only in short bursts and distances before they tire out. Try to cause a gag reflex by jamming any objects you can reach into the back of the alligator's mouth.

Though there's a certain level of risk involved with each outing, kayaking with alligators is safe if you remain alert. They won't attack indiscriminately, and rarely will they stay in the same area as a kayaker. Still, it's important to remember you're a visitor in their territory, and you should respect it as such.

Crocodiles do not live in the ocean. Because they are semi-aquatic, they still need access to land where their food sources are found. While they can survive for extended periods of time without food, they still need access to their food. With this in mind, they are mostly found in rivers, estuaries, and even lakes.

They are known to be fantastic swimmers and can travel long distances by sea, sometimes as much as 900km. Saltwater crocodiles aren't particularly strong swimmers, yet there have been many reports of sightings in the open ocean, far from land.

Can alligators climb trees?

Some alligators and crocodiles don't just lurk in water. They lurk in trees. Crocodiles and alligators can -- and do -- climb trees. “Climbing behavior is common among crocodilians,” reads a new study in Herpetology Notes.

Sadly for mad scientists everywhere, the answer to this question is no. According to Owlcation, both alligators and crocodiles fall into the "Crocodilia" order, but they're not related closely enough to interbreed.

Alligators can reach speeds of up to 35 mph on land (though they are known to tire quickly). In the water, an alligator can reach a top speed of 20 mph. That's faster than a bottlenose dolphin.

In nature, alligators deposit their excrement on land, and it appears as a mass of green or brown feces with a spot of white uric acid – very much like a bird's excrement.

Oklahoma (100-200)

There is a tiny population of alligators that live certain southern regions of the state. The state that is probably least known for alligator populations is Oklahoma.

They are ectothermic meaning their body temperature is regulated by external sources of cooling and heating, thus they are predominately found in shallow waters and on shorelines to maintain a comfortable temperature range.

This is a list of fatal alligator attacks in the United States in reverse chronological order by decade. All occurred in the Southeast, where alligators are endemic to wetlands and tidal marshes. The state of Florida, where most attacks and deaths occur, began keeping records of alligator attacks in 1948.

Gainesville, Florida, has the highest number of alligators in one city. People in Florida have learned to share the wild with these massive predators. Southern Florida is also the only place on earth where alligators and crocodiles live together.

The majority of alligator infested lakes are in Florida, with Lake Jesup being the most infested lake in the United States. This lake in central Florida is home to an estimated 13,000 alligators.

They essentially dig tunnels in the mud where they sleep and when they come out of the gator hole, other animals come in and inhabit the area. It can be hard to say how long these gators will sleep in the tunnels, however once the weather starts to warm up, they will come out of the dormancy.

Can alligators smell period blood?

Especially during mating season (May-August). Be very careful. It is highly recommended that all menstruating women wear a diaper in addition to a full wetsuit too help cover the scent of their menstruations. Like bears, gators can smell the menstruation, which will put your entire party at risk.

Even from a state of rest, alligators can jump up to six feet into the air! An alligator's jump isn't just limited to jumping out of the water. They've been known to jump so they can get up to a tree branch faster and then climb to their prey.

Large adult male alligators generally prefer deep, open water during the entire active season. Large females also are found in open water during the breeding season, but then move to marshes and lake edges during the nesting season and after young have hatched.

“Pop them on the snout. The tip of their snout is very sensitive. That might be able to get them to release you,” Magill said. Jabbing a gator in the eyes may also make it release its bite, even for just a moment, allowing you to get away before it pulls you underwater.

“They can outrun any human being on Earth in the first 20 to 30 feet.” Hanna told major news stations that the best advice he can give to people is: maintain a safe distance. Hanna's tips, from ABC, CBS and Fox News: Never feed an alligator.

“Alligators likely hunker down to weather a storm by finding easy to get in and out of places,” he adds. Some smaller gators may get swept away by hurricanes; others might change their foraging patterns altogether to stay safe. Other species may be less lucky.

Alligators have a natural fear of humans, and usually begin a quick retreat when approached by people. If you have a close encounter with an alligator a few yards away, back away slowly.

American alligators are reportedly quite fond of eating dogs. If you do walk your dog near the water, keep it on a leash and be on guard for any movement on or near the water.

Yes you can walk on the beach at night. The Virginia Beach oceanfront does not close. You are free to walk on it at any time, but please be advised that there are no lifeguards on duty after hours.

Swim sober. Avoid the water at night, dawn or dusk.

What is the nicest beach in Virginia Beach?

Bob — a 13-foot, 1300-pound great white shark — sent a satellite ping 9:25 a.m. Sunday while off the coast of Virginia Beach. Tancook, who is nearing 10 feet in length and 715 pounds, followed behind Bob, pinging in almost the same location less than 12 hours later.

Tiger sharks are some of the biggest sharks near Virginia beaches – and in the entire ocean.

Jellyfish are one of the more common animals encountered by visitors to Chesapeake Bay and nearby coastal waters, especially during summer. The most common jellyfish in the summertime Bay, and the one most responsible for stinging swimmers, is the sea nettle Chrysaora chesapeakei.

Avoid swimming at night

It's not a smart move: the dangers of swimming in the sea at night are many. You can easily become disoriented and lose sight of the shore, leaving you unsure of which direction you should swim. If you get too tired, there will be no lifeguard to rescue you.

On average, July is the hottest month in Virginia Beach, while January is the coldest.

It's not as clear as the gulf, and can get murky at times,, but when it is clear, you can see the bottom. The water at the oceanfront has a green louche to it. From a distance it appears dark blue, but up close, it has a metallic olive color, and if you are in chest deep water, you can't see the bottom.

However diminutive those species might look next to an alligator, they actually can survive here. Alligators, on the other hand, naturally occur in the southeastern United States and could not survive the winters in Maine.

Pets, too, are susceptible to infections, which can turn fatal in a short amount of time. Despite these health concerns, beaches along the tidal rivers and the Chesapeake Bay are often safe for swimming, fishing and boating.

Alligators are not native to Maryland. However, it is not uncommon to find them in this area because they have been released by someone who illegally brought them to the state.

How far north do alligators live on the East Coast of the United States?

American alligators can be found in the coastal wetlands of the U.S. Southeast, as far north as North Carolina and as far west as eastern Texas. Their range extends down to southern Florida and includes the Everglades.

But despite their size and strength, there are animals that do prey on them. Man appears to be their biggest predator. Big cats like leopards and panthers sometimes kill and eat these big reptiles. Large snakes can also do a lot of damage to alligators and crocodiles.

Alligators stop feeding when the ambient temperature drops below about 70° F and they become dormant below 55° F, according to the Florida Fish & Wildlife Management Commission.

On average, the Chesapeake Bay dead zone covers between 1.2 cubic miles during the summer months, when the water is warmest and oxygen levels are historically lowest. Long-term trends indicate the Bay's dead zones are getting smaller.

Types of Jellyfish in the Chesapeake Bay

In the Chesapeake Bay, you'll most likely come across moon jellyfish — peaceful, pretty, blobby things floating around. Moon jellies sting, but it's a small hurt if you even notice it. You might see Salps, but they're mainly at Ocean City. Salps are small and don't sting.

The average depth is 21 feet (7 m). The deepest channel in the Bay is 175 feet (53 m).

Alligators may occur anywhere there is water—lakes, ponds, rivers, marshes, swamps, and even man-made canals.

However, the Outer Banks is still home to the American Alligator. Alligators inhabit areas north of the refuge and in some of our waterways. You can see alligators in the Alligator River, Milltail Creek, Sawyer Lake, and in the border canals that line Highway 64/264 in Manns Harbor and Stumpy Point!