Gator Fingers

A recipe.

Reptile Biology Notes

Research on alligator respiration suggests they "breathe like birds." (News source.)

The "tentacles" on a tentacled snake are very sensitive to the touch, allowing the snake to find prey in murky water. (News source.)

Jumping Gators

Gatorland is bringing in new blood for their Gator Jumparoo show, as the older alligators have gotten a bit lazy. (News source.)

Crocodilians in the News

35 pure Siamese crocodiles were found among a larger group of rescued crocs in Cambodia. These will be used to help in the conservation of this endangered species. (News source.)

A profile here on a Namibian man attacked by a large crocodile.

A Florida man stuck his hands under a car, thinking his dog was under it, and got bit by an alligator. (News source.)

Gator Attack

An elderly golfer lost an arm to an alligator that attacked him when he went to pick up his ball. The attack occurred on Fripp Island, SC. (News source.)

Herp Attacks

An Alabama farmer was apparently killed by a rattlesnake bite to the neck. (News source.)

A Florida woman narrowly escaped an alligator attack. (News source.)

Famous Local Gator Not Poached

The Georgia gator that was feared poached turned up alive, and the carcass has been traced to a suspect. (News source.)

Fine for NC Dealer

Most of the 100 snakes seized from a North Carolina reptile dealer were returned to be moved to a different location. The dealer was fined $300 for keeping venomous snakes, against county regs. An alligator and four eastern diamondbacks were not returned, due to state laws. (News source.)

Poachers Kill Gator

A 9-foot gator was killed by poachers in Evans, Georgia. (News source.)

Crocodilian Farming and the Economy

A Saigon venture is training craftspeople to work with crocodile skin. (News source.)

A Bangladesh man has started up a crocodile farm there. (News source.)

The Florida gator skin market is drying up as luxury buyers are holding off. (News here, and here.)

Gator Hunting

A "new, undisputed Alabama state record alligator" was shot during the latest season. It was 13' 5" and 701 pounds. (News source.)

The Florida season started up, with some animal rights protesters showing up. (News source.)

Gator Bite

A Florida woman was bitten by an alligator while pulling weeds. (News source.)

Problem Gators

A SC sheriff's deputy was fired for shooting at a gator without a nuisance gator permit. (News source.)

A Florida man lost two fingers to an alligator while rescuing his dog. (News source.)

OOP Gators

A small gator was caught in Butte Creek, in California. (News source.)

A couple of Indiana teens killed a 6-foot alligator in a Jasper County river. (News source.)

A small alligator was captured in the Tuscarawas River, in Ohio. (News source.)

Chinese Alligator Success

A group of wild-born Chinese alligators from previously captive adults has been discovered on Chongming Island. (News source.)

Gator Farm Blues

Bad economic news for gator farmers. (I'm surprised there isn't an enterprising group taking advantage of this to bring a former "luxury" item to a cheaper market.)

OOP Crocs

Two small crocodilians were reported from a pond near a Ukrainian oil refinery plant. (News source.)

Tracks on a Brevard County, FL, beach indicate an alligator or croc; saltwater-forays by gators are unusual. (News source.)

More Crocodilian News

A swimmer in Mississippi may have been attacked by an alligator. (News source.)

The mystery crocodile deaths in South Africa still haven't been solved. (News source.)

Out of Place Crocodilians

A village pond in France is being drained to catch the "crocodile" said to be lurking there. (News source.)

A baby gator was caught in Trumbull Lake, in Connecticut, probably dumped due to the restrictive regulations there. (News source.)

A small alligator was seen in an Indiana lake. (News source.)

Crocodilians

Hermes is farming crocs in Australia to meet demand for their crocodile-skin products. (News source.)

Two young Indian men fought of a crocodile that attacked their father. (News source.)

A profile here on a Florida gator trapper.

Don't do this with your kids (or your crocs).

When Herps Attack

A toddler in California was bitten by a rattlesnake. (News source.)

A 16-year old Florida boy was bitten by a pygmy rattlesnake, and a schoolgirl was bitten by a water moccasin. (News source.)

Snakebites have increased by 75% in North Carolina this year. (News source.)

The latest gator attack victim has a new challenge now: mounting hospital bills, as he is uninsured. (News source.)

Gator Survey

There are over a million alligators in Florida, and biologists continue to monitor the population. (News source.)

Alligator Attack

A Florida fisherman survived an attack by an 11-foot gator. (News source.)

Gator News

Chinese researchers say the wild population of Chinese alligators in the Yangtze river may increase to 300 in the next 5-10 years. (News source.)

A South Carolina man was charged with possession of a baby alligator, illegal in that state. (News source.)

Crocodilians in the News

An Australian man was killed by a large croc when he attempted to swim across a river where crocodiles were known to live. (News source, and here, and here.) Police shot the probable attacker.

A Zambian woman was killed by a crocodile while she was washing clothes at a river. (News source.)

Success in gharial breeding in India. (News source.)

The poor economy has hit a gator farm. (News source.)

Gator "Attack"

A Florida man fought off (with an oar) a gator that tried to jump into his boat. Wildlife officials then charged the man for some fishing/boating violations. (News source.)

Gators Escape in Floodwaters

Flooding in Mississippi has led to the escape of about 20 gators from Gulf Coast Gator Ranch & Tours. (News source.)

Crocodilian Bites

A small gator entered a Florida couple's porch and bit the man. (News source.)

A Zambia man was killed by a crocodile while night fishing. (News source.)

Gator Attack Victim Gets New Device

An alligator attack victim has received newly designed technology (a grafted patch of human skin). (News source.)

Herp Crimes

Three Florida teenagers were charged with poaching alligators. (News source.)

Gassing dens for rattlesnakes is now outlawed in Alabama. (News source.)

A gang of Indian venom smugglers was caught with king cobra venom. (News source.)

LA's Gator Farm

Some history here on the long gone Los Angeles Alligator Farm.

Alligator B&B

The Texas Alligator Ranch (Spearman, TX) is adding a bed and breakfast. (News source.)

SC Gator Hunt Numbers

The hunt numbers for the 2008 alligator hunting season in South Carolina show "362 alligators from 13 different counties, in the state's first public alligator hunt in more than 40 years." (News source.)

Crocodilians

A female gator at Jungle Gardens (FL) may be mistaking the rumble of a garbage truck for the bellow male alligator's mating call... (News source.)

A Malawi teenager was killed by a crocodile. (News source.)

A Swaziland woman was saved from a crocodile attack by her dog. (News source.)

A crocodile that killed a young Australian boy has been captured and will live out its life in captivity. (News source.)

Famous Gator Moves

A 12-foot, 800-lb, 43-year old alligator was moved to the G. W. Exotic Animal Park after its Oklahoma owner accidentally killed himself with a chainsaw. The alligator had been used in several commercials and movies over the years. (News source, and here.)

Herp Crimes

A couple of pet store thieves (took a ball python) have been caught. (News source.)

Ten rare tortoises were stolen from the Live Turtle and Tortoise Museum in Singapore. (News source.) Three men have been charged. (News source.)

And, a Louisiana man was arrested for stealing funds meant for a boy who lost an arm in an alligator attack. (News source.)

Gator Bite Update

Surgeons managed to save the thumb, but only half of the index finger, after the recent gator bite on a Florida man's hand. Details here.

Gator Bite

A contractor picking up litter in a Florida park was bitten on the hand by an alligator, partially severing the hand. (News source, and here)

Herp Tourism

A Snake Temple in Malaysia has undergone renovations, and is being marketed to the tourist industry. (News source.)

Gatorland has a limited-time exhibit, four leucistic alligators. (News source.)

Training Gators

An interesting behavioral training technique is used by the Fort Fisher Aquarium with their alligators, allowing safer upkeep of the cage. (News source.)

Gator Business

A profile here on a Florida alligator processing plant.

Gator Mounting

The preservation work on Oscar the alligator's skeleton continues at Okefenokee Swamp Park. (News source.)

OOP Gator Might Have Been Stolen

The Australian Reptile Park might be the source for that OOP alligator found by scouts; apparently, at least five gators have been stolen from there since 1999. (News source.)

Australian Alligator News

A 1.5 meter long alligator has turned up on Australia's South Coast, puzzling officials. (News source.)

Australia Reptile Park has done their annual egg-snatching in the alligator exhibit, so that hatchling alligators don't get loose into Australia's waterways. (Too late...) (News source.)

Not an Albino

A white alligator seen in Indian River County, FL, is not an albino -- its coloration is due to mineral deposits on the skin. (News source.)

Herp Crimes

Someone attempted to steal a juvenile alligator from a Pennsylvania pet shop. (News source.)

An Alabama breeder of Amazon tree boas was robbed of 22 snakes, with containers. (News source.) [Update: the snakes weren't stolen after all.]

Pesticides Affect Gators

Chemical pollution is leading to sterilization in alligators, and leads to questions about how much it affects us. (News source.)

Egg Thieves Arrested

Three men have been arrested for stealing alligator eggs from a Louisiana gator farm. (News source.)

More Crocodilian News

A Florida man was given three years probation for poaching a small alligator. (News source.)

A Malaysian man freed himself twice from an attacking crocodile. (News source.)

Gator Chili

Recipe here.

Gators at University

Researchers at Southeastern Oklahoma State University are working with some young alligators that were found abandoned by their mother in the state. (News source.)

More on Croc Crimes

A civil suit seems likely against the parents of the 7-year old boy who broke into an Australian reptile farm and raised havoc. (News source.)

Two Florida men apparently stole 4 alligators and a New Guinea crocodile from an alligator farm. (News source.)

Big Gator

A state-record alligator, over 13 feet in length, was killed in Mississippi during this year's alligator hunting season. (News source.)

Gator Hunting in SC

Via Roark Ferguson: South Carolina is following other southern states and opening up alligator hunting again, with conditions hunters must follow. (News source.)

Croc News

An article here on alligator hunting in South Carolina.

South African crocodile farms are becoming big business. (News source.) But, along with that are dubious products marketed from crocodile fat making extravagant claims on their natural healing properties. (News source.)

Gatorfest

There's an alligator-themed festival coming up at Fort Anahuac Park, Texas. Details here.

Florida Gator Hunting Season

The 11-week alligator hunting season in Florida starts today. (News source.)

Gator News

Two Florida gators (residing at a nature center) hate going to the vet... (News source.)

Dam construction threatens Siamese crocodiles in Cambodia. (News source.)

I'm Really Not Keeping Track Anymore...

But here's another out-of-place alligator, a 4-foot one in southern New Jersey. (News source.)

Alligator Attacks Boy

A pre-teen boy was attacked by an alligator while swimming in a Louisiana pond. His arm was ripped off. The boy is currently hospitalized. (News source.)

Don't Feed the Gators

Some Florida airboat captains have been arrested for feeding alligators to impress the tourists. (News source.)

West Nile and Gator Farming

The Louisiana alligator conservation program has to deal with west nile virus problems... (News source.)

Crocodilians in the News

South African crocs are being hit with a mystery ailment. (News source.)

Sri Lanka officials seized crocodile meat from a poacher. (News source.)

Alligator egg collection for Florida's alligator farms is in progress. (News source.)

OOP Reptiles

A few of the more significant finds recently:

A reticulated python in Maine. (News source.)

A small alligator caught in Illinois. (News source.)

A gator reported in Horsham, PA. (News source.)

Croc News

A Florida man was caught poaching alligator eggs. (News source.)

A Bangladesh crocodile farm is becoming successful. (News source.)

Gator Takes Arm

An 18-year old man lost an arm to an alligator while swimming in an Okeechobee Co., FL, canal. (News source.)

Crocodilian News

A Texas man tries to find a new home for his 5-foot illegal alligator. (News source.)

China is reporting (for some reason) the sighting of some Chinese alligators in the wild. (News source.)

Two gharials were spotted 30km from the Tata Steel Zoological Park (in India ), where they escaped during flooding. (News source.)

An Australian man was fortunate enough to fight off an attack by a 15-foot saltwater crocodile. (News source.)

Baby Nile crocodiles synchronize their hatching by chattering to each other beforehand. (News source.)

Gator Fiasco

Three Volusia Co., FL, deputies responded to a gator call, decided to jump the 8-foot gator, and one got bit badly. So, another deputy shot it. The deputies have been reprimanded. (News source.)

MD: OOP Gator

A small alligator was fished out of an Anne Arundel Co. golf course pond. (News source.)

Croc Issues

Crocodiles are dying at Kruger National Park, investigations underway. (News source.)

Cane toads are killing freshwater crocs in Australia. (News source.)

A dog that survived a gator attack died from bite-related infections. (News source.)

Gator Politics in NC

A fight is brewing in North Carolina, between the police force in Leland and state wildlife officials, over the shooting of an 11-foot gator that was blocking a road. The police claim they had no alternative, that wildlife officers didn't bother to arrive before the next morning. A NC WRC officer says they weren't called until after the gator was dead, and the shooting was illegal... (News source.)

Florida Gator Hunting

Here is a column on gator hunting in Florida, as the upcoming season's permits come available soon.

Missouri Gator Capture

A small alligator was found and captured in a Leavenworth creek. (News source.)

Gator Attack

A 6-foot gator bit a man's hand at Lake Trafford, near Naples, when the man was wading in the water. (News source.)

Gator Bites Teen

One of two Vernon, Florida, teens who tried to move a 4-foot gator from a yard was bitten. The other teen stabbed the alligator until it released. The animal was euthanized due to the injuries. (News source.)

Update on Man Found Dead in Canal

The Polk County, FL, discovery of a man in a canal was not an alligator attack. The autopsy confirmed the man drowned, and the alligator only ate parts after the man was dead. (News source.)

Three "Caiman" in Brooklyn

A jogger turned in three small crocodilians he said he found in Spring Creek Park. The Animal Care and Control Shelter was suspicious, but took them in. And, they misidentified them as caiman: the photo clearly show three juvenile American alligators. (News source.)

Possible Gator Attack

A dead man was found floating in a Polk Co., FL, canal, with a gator nearby. No details yet on whether the gator was involved or not. (News source.)

Gator Poaching Videotaped

A Florida man and teenager were videotaped illegally capturing a 7-foot gator by a passer-by. Police caught up with them, and the gator relocated. (News source.)

Gator vs Deputy

A Volusia County, FL, sheriff's deputy attempted to round up a stray 8-foot alligator, and ended up getting bit on the leg. Another deputy shot at it a few times and managed to get the leg free, and a trapper eventually arrived to restrain and shoot the animal. (News source.)

Croc Farming

Zimbabwe is encouraging farmers to raise crocodiles commercially. (News source.)

Toy Kills Gator

A 9-foot gator in the Florida Keys died after eating a plastic toy turtle, which lodged in its digestive tract. (News source.)

Oscar Returns

The late Oscar, a 14-foot alligator that inhabited Okefenokee Swamp Park, will be mounted (skeleton only) for display to park visitors. (News source.)

Crocodilian News

A Florida golf ball diver was attacked by a 10+ foot alligator, managing to barely escape with a broken arm and crushed shoulder. (News source.)

A 3-foot crocodilian was reported from Swansea lake, in the UK. (News source.)

A hunt for gharials in Pakistan didn't locate any of the species. They may have been wiped out by hunters. (News source.)

NH Gator Sighting

A New Hampshire fisherman says he hooked a 5-foot alligator, but wasn't able to reel it in. Police are checking the pond. (News source.)

Herp Ringtones

ENature is offering a few wildlife ringtones, including some herp calls...

Gator Blood Fights Disease

Proteins from the blood of alligators may find their way into human medicine. Medical researchers are looking for ways to harness gators' strong immunological resistance in future medical treatments. (News source.)

Crocodilian News

A Japanese aquarium has a dwarf caiman that entertains crowds by standing on its hind legs when water is poured on it. (Reminiscent of a waterfall?) (News source.)

Here is a profile on a South Carolina alligator wrangler, who captures problem gators.

And an article on South Carolina's new alligator hunting season. (News source.)

Europe's Albino Alligator

The only albino alligator in captivity in Europe is profiled here.

Gatorama

Here is a profile of the Florida attraction, Gatorama.

Gator News

Shifting lungs allows alligators to be agile and quick underwater. (News source.)

Two suspects in the vandalism at St. Augustine Alligator Farm have been caught. (News source.)

Why?

A (naked) man was taken into custody when he was found stalking an alligator in a pond. This wasn't his first incident with gators. He had been rescued from the jaws of an alligator two years earlier. (News source.)

Alligator Bite

A Seminole Tribe employee was bitten by a 7-foot gator, losing a thumb, when he tried to move the reptile. Surgeons are attempting to reconnect the thumb. (News source.)

Everglades Alligator Farm

Here is a profile on the Everglades Alligator Farm.

Crocodopolis: World Record Crocs

The online magazine, Crocodopolis, has announced the Crocodilian World Records Project, with the first phase focusing on record alligators. For details, go here.

No Dogs Allowed (Off Leash)

A Florida woman (originally from Ohio) didn't realize the dangers of letting her small Cairn terrier off leash near fresh water. The dog ran towards the water and jumped in, and was promptly eaten by a resident alligator. (News source.)

SC Gator Hunting

Legislation to allow alligator hunting in South Carolina has hit a small debate regarding whether or not hunters (or landowners with problem gators) will be required to tie off an alligator before shooting it. (News source.)

Gator Hunter

An interesting profile on an alligator hunter here.

Frog Leg Fest

The 17th annual Fellsmere Frog Leg Festival in Florida drew thousands of people, and served up 7,000 pounds of frog legs and 3,000 pounds of gator tail. (News source.)

Alligator Swarm

Alligators swarmed a group of swimming (probably stray) dogs, taking one under while the other two dogs escaped. (News source)