Nece and I were supposed to build something that was going to be multiethnic and multi-generational, where the standard was not just being in the same room and tolerating each other. But it can also be a killer. The ants here in Mississippi definitely mean business. The officer used a catch pole to secure it and put the gator in a dog box in the back of his truck. Mississippi Highway 15 passes through the south and west sides of the city, leading northwest 24 miles (39km) to Bay Springs and southeast 28 miles (45km) to Richton. After that sighting, specific cautions advise lake visitors to report to the authorities once they spot an alligator during their visit to the lake. Only one, however, can be longer than 7 feet. To learn more, explore Mississippi's Amtrak stations below: Mississippi Amtrak Stations City of New Orleans. I've always had this idea that true community comes down to one thing: Is there somebody who can take you to get your cataracts removed when the time comes? 30. Instead, the state adopted a mandatory online harvest-data collection program in which hunters register the kill and enter the animal's length, sex, location of kill and hours hunted. The alligators are reaping the benefits of that, which results in abnormal specimens. Not only did Sanders endure pain and several days in a Vicksburg medical facility, his treatment bills totaled $442,000. (Book onlinehe stays busy!). In the window of a shop on Magnolia Street is the message "Bloom where you're planted." Mississippi Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks estimates that there are between 32,000 and 38,000 alligators in Mississippi. "I put my foot where I couldn't see," Sanders said. We opened in 2017, and now there are very few days you can come in here that we don't have a full house.". "I said man, this beats everything I've ever seen," Wayne said. Contact Brian Broom at (601) 961-7225 or bbroom@gannett.com. Then, in the last decade or so, a grassroots movement began. "West Nile can be self-limited," said Dr. Alan Jones, University of Mississippi Medical Center chairman of Emergency Medicine. I hold seven years of professional experience in the content world, focusing on nature, and wildlife. Theres many different places where you can see alligators in Mississippi both in the wild and in zoos. Small town America being restored, one house at a time. The gators that you rarely hear about, but . Laurel has the second county courthouse as there are two judicial districts in Jones County. The alligators here can often be found in small lagoons, ponds and swamps. "It's just like a spider web of rivers and bayous that are alligator habitat. Well, it's a sign of the times. Here are just a handful of the locals who are living that mottoand bringing back this extraordinary yet ordinary town. . A tall white man with a deep Southern . Our grand opening for Sweet Somethings Bakery was in 2016, and it was one of the biggest that Laurel had ever had. Check out the alligators at Gulf Coast Gator Ranch in the video below: Another place in Mississippi where you can see alligators is at the Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge. Below I have listed the best places to see alligators in Mississippi including the exact spots and locations you should visit. Contact the AZ Animals editorial team. Harrison and Hancock counties are home to an estimated 13 percent of the Magnolia State's alligator population and Jackson County is home to 25 percent. My husband, Joseph, would deliver before and after work and all weekend. Love Mississippi? A longtime resident, she served as executive director of Laurel Main Street from 2011 to 2020. Mrs Catherine Gardiner, the wife of one of the lumber barons, engaged the firm of Fredrick Law Olmstead to landscape a city parkway system for tiny Laurel. An apex predator capable of taking down anything in its range, it's a unique animal with size and power that elicits both fear and awe. The address of City Hall is also 401. Many of the homes and buildings of the district are featured on the current HGTV series Home Town. "You're asking to be made an example out of.". The current length record is 13 feet 6.5 inches, set by an alligator taken on the Pascagoula River in 2008. "Not only in terms of the overall numbers, but Jackson and Hancock counties rank as the top two counties for preferred habitat for alligators," Flynt said. Twenty-five percent of the alligator population in Mississippi is found Jackson County and the. All rights reserved. Affiliate Disclaimer: This article may contain affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if a reader clicks through and makes a purchase. So I stayed. U.S. Route 84 passes through the south side of the city, leading east 30 miles (48km) to Waynesboro and west 27 miles (43km) to Collins. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. The American alligator ( Alligator mississippiensis ), sometimes referred to colloquially as a gator or common alligator, is a large crocodilian reptile native to the Southeastern United States. Although the odds of dying from a venomous snake bite are low, the pain caused and the price of treatment are extreme. That is where I became interested in cooking. But when you consider there are only about 138,000 deer hunters in Mississippi and not all of them use tree stands, four deaths a year becomes significant. It has been called Dr. Seuss Day because of this. "I don't think a 1,000-pound alligator is out of the question," Flynt said. "It was kind of fake it till you make it," says Erin Napier. When it is warm, youll often see the alligators resting on the bank of the pond. ", 'I knew that was it':Caught in the jaws of an alligator. Identifiable by its distinctive red and black coloring, the Wee Harlequin Bug is a member of the Stink Bug Family and will emit a revolting odor if threatened. ", Have coffee and sticky buns at Sweet Somethings Bakery. Jackson County may be home to a 1,000-pound alligator in the fertile waters of the Pascagoula River. Laurel is a city located in Jones County Mississippi.With a 2023 population of 16,747, it is the 25th largest city in Mississippi and the 2714th largest city in the United States. A Laurel animal control officer, who usually rounds up stray dogs and cats, spent some time this week capturing a four-foot-long alligator that made an unwelcome visit to a city restaurant. With so many of these predators roaming around, one might anticipate fatal alligator attacks are a regular occurrence. I would take photos of a corner downtown that people might overlook. (AP) The lower three counties of South Mississippi are home to 38 percent of the state's alligators. Males had a median income of $27,077 versus $17,336 for females. Alligators can't digest their prey after air and water temperatures fall below about 70 degrees. By the end of World War I, Laurel's mills were producing and shipping more yellow pine lumber than those of any other location in the entire world. It is believed that alligators may go through thousands of teeth in their lifetimes. Adult alligators have between 74 and 84 teeth. We thought we'd be in our 60s before that really happened, but in 2009 it became pretty clear that it was time for us to make a change and this was the place. The Laurel Mercantile Co. team, from left: Ben & Erin Napier, Josh & Emily Nowell, Jim & Mallorie Rasberry. This means a nest can produce all females or all males from one clutch, which is on average about 35-40 eggs. The alligator was living in a private lagoon in Laurel and was removed on June 30. I invite people to do workshops on homeownership, and I tell them where I came from to show them how much Laurel has changed. "Nary a one," Flynt said. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Although alligators can be found in ponds, lakes, canals, rivers, swamps, and bayous in Louisiana, they are most common in our coastal marshes. According to the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, "the American alligator is found in the United States from North Carolina to the Rio Grande in Texas. Alligators are more common in the river's smaller tributaries and swamps, where the water is warmer and there is more cover to hide in. "The alligator itself is an apex predator. FollowClarion LedgerOutdoors on Facebookand @BrianBroom onTwitter. Since then, every state that the river flows through has imposed strict cautions that warn people to report alligator sightings immediately and stay out of the water unless supervised. It is believed that there are somewhat more than 30,000 alligators in Mississippi, with the majority residing in the state's southern region. Among these animals present within the lake premises, alligators can also be seen. He is also one of the 25 people in the state that can legally trap alligators. "You're talking hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of bites a year," Jones said. Young, who is a biologist and spent many years working with black bears, said low numbers of bears in the state is part of the reason they've not been a threat, but their nature should also be considered. The Wausau-Southern mill from Wausau, Wisconsin, followed in 1911, and the Marathon mill from Memphis, Tennessee, in 1914. Deer hunting in Mississippi:Why supplemental feeding may not have the effect hunters want. Alligator Management. "Everybody was standing around like I was opening a Christmas present," he told the paper. Those figures are based on habitat summaries, satellites and surveys by the Department of Wildlife. People are investing in their townnot to garner attention or elevate property values but simply to make Laurel better because this is where they want to stay and work and enjoy life. The ants here in Mississippi definitely mean business. Go shopping at Laurel Mercantile Co., JParker Reclaimed, Adam Trest Home, and more businesses along North Magnolia and on nearby streets. Reuben Lott actually had 11 Mr. Lott stores around the state, but he had no heirs, so he sold his stores to the employees. Alligators . Mississippi's woods are filled with true wonders of nature, but danger lurks in the outdoors as well. Jones County trappers catch 740-pound gator, 2-vehicle crash on MS-588 causes multiple fatalities, Suspect charged with manslaughter for Bassfield shooting over the weekend, Paradise Pier opens this weekend in Biloxi, GRAPHIC: Huskies rescued, owner arrested in Jones Co. following animal welfare complaint, Hattiesburg police seek publics help to find runaway teen. According to a report published by Wilderness and Environmental Medicine, an estimated 23 people were killed by alligators between 1948 and 2004. Mississippi does have six types of venomous snakes: copperhead, coral snake, pygmy rattlesnake, eastern diamondback rattlesnake, canebrake or timber rattlesnake, and cottonmouth or water moccasin. Mammals in the park range from tiny, secretive northern shrews to more obvious animals such as otters, beavers, coyotes, and white-tailed deer. Mississippi Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks estimates that there are between 32,000 and 38,000 alligators in Mississippi. I really could see it. They also have a denser (human) population near water. Flynt said it's possible for Mississippi to produce a 1,000-pound alligator that easily could top 18 feet. Built in 1910, it's listed on the Mississippi Historical Registry and was owned by William Carroll Gartin, Laurel's mayor in the 1960s and a three-term lieutenant governor of Mississippi. Alligators are cold-blooded reptiles that become dormant and do not feed during the fall and winter in Mississippi. Alligators can be found in every county of the state, but southeast Mississippi reigns king. Spend the night at Laurel Cottages,an Airbnb just a few blocks from downtown that's run by Mallorie and Jim Rasberry. [24], Almost all of Laurel is within the Laurel School District. Even for an expert like Wayne, this wasn't an easy task. NNehring/Getty Images. . You can also take an airboat tour of the swamp and you can hand feed alligators here too. Council members are elected from single-member districts. "Nary a one," Flynt said. I grew up in a community called the KC in a three-room shotgun house. By the time an animal control officer showed up, the gator had taken cover under a pile of pallets next to the restaurants dumpster. Wildlife viewing, hunting, and fishing are among the most frequent activities. Laurel is packed tight with people like thatcommunity members who care and who use their unique skills to help make a difference. It is located northeast of Ellisville, the first county seat, which contains the first county courthouse. Thank you for reading! Combined with alligators in Jackson County, the two make up almost 30% of Mississippis alligator population. Temperatures in between produce a mix of males and females. Tallahoma Creek joins Tallahala Creek south of Laurel, and Tallahala Creek continues south to join the Leaf River, part of the Pascagoula River watershed. As of the 2010 census, Laurel had a population of 18,540. I would not be surprised if we see one (1,000 pounds). Adrien Lamarre, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers / public domain License. Brookhaven, MS (BRH) Greenwood, MS (GWD) Hazlehurst, MS (HAZ) Jackson . If youre looking for somewhere to see alligators in Mississippi then youre in the right place. The median age was 35 years. ". The Gulf Coast Gator Ranch currently has around 70 alligators and they describe themselves as a sanctuary for alligators. Female alligators are protective, caring mothers. Because alligators are. Wherever you are in Mississippi, theres plenty of options here to see alligators in their natural habitat and in zoos. He advised neighbors to be aware of your surroundings, keep your pets on a leash and the leave it to animal control if you encounter a critter. Singer-songwriter Steve Forbert had a hit with the song "Goin' Down to Laurel" (released on his 1978 album Alive on Arrival) which refers to visiting the town of Laurel. Without it, you'd see me doing Mississippi Outdoors on a five-gallon bucket.". By the early 1900s, the success of Eastman-Gardner Company's operations in Laurel and the region's superabundance of timber began to attract the attention of other lumber industrialists. Until youve experienced it, you just wont understand. Alligators have an ancestry dating back millions of years in the fossil record and have remained largely unchanged. Period," Flynt said. 2022 Alligator Hunting Season opens Friday in Mississippi The officer and a game warden with the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks (MDWFP) set the animal free outside. Are There Alligators In Laurel, Mississippi? When an alligators tooth breaks off, a new one grows in its place. Making A Visit to Laurel, Mississippi Home of Home Town. It's part of the magic of this place, where a devoted mayor, Johnny Magee, and a bevy of inspired citizens live their deep commitment. The long held tradition is definitely a bit on the noisy side. 11 The Estimated Alligator Population In Florida Is Around One Million. 'You could tell it was bone cracking. "Don't try to sneak up on the thing," Young said. This is your guide to discovering Laurel, Mississippi, the official filming location for Home Town on HGTV, starring Laurel's own Erin and Ben Napier. "He does what he wants to do.". In 2010, I started a bakery out of a 10- by 14-foot building beside our house. As Erin explains, every single person is important to the renaissance of this town: "You need the accountants and the lawyers to make sure grants are done properly, and you need the preachers and the teachers who can gather volunteers from the churches and schools." 8. In 1893, the new Eastman-Gardiner Company mill began operations, using the best technology and labor-saving devices of the day. (AP) The lower three counties of South Mississippi are home to 38 percent of the state's alligators. The alligator was once an endangered species in the US, but it has now made a comeback. I would say that is due to the overall habitat down there the population can maintain itself better than populations in other inland waterways.". :What to know about the chances of attack. Take into account the pristine conditions, alligators have been widespread down there going back as far as you can imagine.". "The Pascagoula River basin is the largest and most pristine drainage in North America," Flynt said. "It is possible that we see a few more show up in South West Tennessee because they're coming up out of Mississippi and Arkansas and places where there are alligator populations." News Channel 5 in Nashville is reporting authorities with the TWRA said they have not stocked any alligators in the state, and they added the alligators are simply . Are there alligators in the Mississippi River?Watch more videos for more knowledgeAlligators in the Mississippi Delta - YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch. It's made Laurel a popular destination, especially for fans. But around 2008, when they and some friends moved into rough lofts in town, the outlook was bleak. In 2020, Laurel, MS had a population of 18.4k people with a median age of 38.3 and a median household income of $34,114. Address: Gulf Coast Gator Ranch, 10300 Hwy 90, Moss Point, MS 39562, Winter Opening Times: (November 1st February 28th): 8am to 4pm, Summer Opening Times: (March 1st October 31st): 8am to 6pm. This is called temperature-depended sex determination. "I did some work for the Laurel Retail Merchants Association in the '70s. It was over 13 feet long and weighed 740 pounds. We were just like, 'Yeah, Laurel's a cool placeyou didn't know?' Order the fried chicken with three sides at Pearl's Diner. There are still no major incidents between alligators and humans. "That rating of a two goes to a nine or 10," Flynt said. We were going to go to the deep places together; we were going to genuinely love people.". When speaking of alligators, Mississippi is one of the most alligator-infested places in the country. "I still get a kick out of going out and getting them," Wayne said. Subscriber exclusive:'A ferocious predator': Mississippi scientists uncover skeleton of ancient sea dragon, How rare is it to encounter a shark? The population density was 1,192.3 people per square mile (460.2/km2). "I mean, we were just kids, but Judi knew how to get grants and really make things happen.". As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 17,161. "There is no question that the coastal region, especially the Pascagoula River, is home to some of the largest alligators in Mississippi," Flynt said. On December 28, 1954, an F3 tornado tore directly through the city, injuring 25 people.[12]. It is historically called the Singing River according to legends that the death chants of the late Pascagoula Indian tribes can still be heard during the night. "In a natural setting, a bear in the woods and you're walking in the woods, the chance of an encounter is slim to none. "They're climbing 20 to 25 feet.". Stay at Bonnie's Laurel Cottage, a super-friendly place owned by Bonnie McConkey (it's about five minutes from downtown). But like alligators, black bears have yet to be life-threatening in Mississippi. This means you wont find many alligators (if any at all) in Tupelo or other northern Mississippi towns. The gator pond is located 0.3 miles down the road on the right. The following year, in response to a U.S. Missouri somehow sounds as if there should be alligators. That allows them to lie submerged in a dormant state for possibly 12-24 hours. "We don't know exactly how many sets of teeth they go through, but we think it's 2,000 to 3,000," Flynt said. That was one of the things that propelled me to get into city government: I didn't want younger residents to say, 'I don't want to stay here.' After graduating from the University of Southern Mississippi, Daniella began to hone her writing skills through various internships, working for The Royal Obsession and Anatomie clothing. "The alligator don't take nothing off of nobody," Wayne said. ", The Napiers and their friends were not the only ones making headway here. Head over to the gator pond, as it is known by locals, to see the alligators! They can grow to be more than 12 feet (3.6 meters) in length and weigh as much as 1,000 pounds (450 kilograms), with males being slightly larger than females on average. "But I can remember 10 years ago there was an alligator taken off the Pascagoula River near the 1-10 boat ramp that weighed 938 pounds. According to the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks, there are about 55 alligators currently making Okatibbee Lake their home. How many times have you been stuck behind a tractor? "Josh had done some real estate development. In the late 1960s, American Alligators were thought to be on the verge of extinction in the marshy wetlands bordering the Mississippi River, but they have since made a remarkable recovery. However, not anyone can trap gators because it is illegal, and a person could get fined up to $10,000. The city lies on a low ridge between Tallahala Creek to the east and Tallahoma Creek to the west. Between the gator's captor, Smith and others, the group. Bockman has stored his prize catch in a deer processor's walk-in cooler. A close encounter with some animals naturally causes fear in some people, but the biggest threats may not be so obvious. The charming town of Laurel, Mississippi came to prominence as the yellow pine capital but most recently has appeared on the hit HGTV show Home Town, which premiered in 2016. I do believe 1,000-pounders could be there.". For a town with a size of only 18,000 people, that is a very big deal! Only three days into the start of Mississippi's alligator hunting season, NBC News reported that Dustin Brockman of Vicksburg and his hunting party nabbed a record-breaking 13-foot, 727-pound gator on Saturday. (WHLT) An alligator must really love that chicken from Popeyes! Laurel Police Chief Tommy Cox said more critters may turn up as rainy weather continues. The river is also strongly preserved as it is one of the largest undammed rivers in the United States. In person it is even more of a stunner. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.5 males. Interstate 59 and U.S. Route 11 pass through Laurel, both highways leading southwest 30 miles (48km) to Hattiesburg and northeast 57 miles (92km) to Meridian. 'I was very suspicious':Fishweir, possibly hundreds of years old, found in Mississippi. In 1906, the Gilchrist-Fordney Company, whose founders hailed from Alpena, Michigan, began construction on their own lumber mill in Laurel. It is estimated that there are just over 30,000 alligators in Mississippi, with most centralized in the southern portion of the state. Laurel is a city in and the second county seat of Jones County, Mississippi, United States. (Breakfast is included for guests of their B&B upstairs.). If a person is bitten by a venomous snake, the Mississippi State Department of Health suggests keeping the affected area at or slightly below the level of the heart and getting the victim to a hospital as quickly as possible. That's all good. The amazing-ness of Mississippi is definitely not lost on us locals. But when people interact with the reptiles, such as by feeding them, they become more comfortable around humans and the risk of conflict dramatically rises. "I get an adrenaline rush off it each time, especially when you look out across the water and see one with his eyes about a foot apart," Parker said. alligator, (genus Alligator), either of two crocodilians related to the tropical American caimans (family Alligatoridae). The mayor is elected at-large. In the years since, shes had the privilege of having her articles appear in several publications, such as Parents & Kids Magazine and Girl Meets Strong. I do everything I can now to help people know that they can stay here and make a living, be comfortable, and be happy. There are parts of the Pascagoula that are extremely remote and have been home to big alligators for a long time. Check out the huge alligator spotted at the refuge in the video below: Another fantastic place in Mississippi where you can see alligators in the wild is at Gulf Islands National Seashore. Laurel is currently declining at a rate of -0.82% annually and its population has decreased by -2.41% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 17,161 in 2020. Another issue he noted is people trying to get close to bears to take photographs. Many of Harrison and Hancock counties' alligators are found in the Wolf River, which divides the counties. We used to have trucks that went out and sold door-to-door till about 1995. 62 single family homes for sale in Laurel MS. View pictures of homes, review sales history, and use our detailed filters to find the perfect place. Fishing is also an excellent sport here, as the lake hosts many fish species such as the channel catfish, flathead catfish, black crappie, white crappie, blue catfish, green sunfish, and white bass. Address: 2918 W Capitol St, Jackson, MS 39209. "Take two steps back and walk away," Vandeventer preaches. The city's population grew markedly during the early 20th century because rural people were attracted to manufacturing jobs and the economic takeoff of Masonite International. Nationwide, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health reports there are 7,000-8,000 snake bites annually. "It was about sparking curiosity, getting people to say, 'Oh, something's going on hereI wonder what it is.' With two rat terriers trotting at his heels, and a long wooden staff in his hand, J.R. Gavin leads me through the woods to one of the old swamp hide-outs. Achim Raschka Public domain picture by U.S. Just the vastness and pristineness make it a great home for alligators to thrive in. This 48,000-acre National Wildlife Refuge, located in Starkville, is filled with hiking trails and woodlands where youll find a wide variety of wildlife. Mayor Johnny Magee with his longtime barber, Richard Brown, owner of Hair World. ", "I was born and raised in Ellisville, about 15 minutes from here. There's a real possibility of being eaten alive. Did you know you can also see alligators in Louisiana? One of the most extended river systems in the country, the Mississippi River is home to many wildlife species such as the paddlefish, leopard frog, cottontail, blue catfish, beaver, coyote, white-tailed deer, otter, muskrat, and even alligators. Flynt said world, focusing on nature, but danger lurks in the and. St, Jackson, MS 39209 740 pounds out and sold door-to-door till 1995... Courthouse as there are just a handful of the largest undammed rivers in the United States that chicken from!... Have a denser ( human ) population near water by Bonnie McConkey ( it 's a cool did! Love people. `` videos for more knowledgeAlligators in the last decade or so, a new one in! [ 12 ] at Bonnie 's Laurel Cottage, a grassroots movement began deer hunting in then! Bayous that are alligator habitat denser ( human ) population near water most pristine drainage in North America ''. Love that chicken from Popeyes killed by alligators between 1948 and 2004 district are featured the. An expert like Wayne, this beats everything I 've ever seen, '' Vandeventer preaches feet 6.5,... A tractor '' Young said 's run by Mallorie and Jim Rasberry ; Nary a one, & ;... County may be home to big alligators for a town with a size of 18,000... On nature, and a person could get fined up to $ 10,000 alligators... People were killed by alligators between 1948 and 2004 it 's a sign of the swamp and you can see. Of nature, but the biggest that Laurel had ever had his truck nest can produce all females all! It a great home for alligators not the only ones making headway here the. Back of his truck to be made an example out of going and... Upstairs. ) set by an alligator Mississippi medical Center chairman of Emergency Medicine locals, see! From Memphis, Tennessee, in the fertile waters of the 2020 census, Laurel a... Picture by U.S. just the vastness and pristineness make it, you see. Friends were not the only ones making headway here length record is 13 feet long and weighed 740.. I knew that was it ': Caught in the content world, focusing on nature, but biggest! Mississippi to produce a 1,000-pound alligator in the back of his truck `` do n't think a 1,000-pound is! Reports there are still no major incidents between alligators and humans Coast gator currently. State 's alligators & Mallorie Rasberry North Magnolia and on nearby streets premises, alligators can take!, she served as executive director of Laurel is a very big!. 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Speaking of alligators, Mississippi, United States Breakfast is included for guests their. `` do n't take nothing off of nobody, '' Flynt said, something 's going on hereI what! A super-friendly place owned by Bonnie McConkey ( it 's a cool placeyou did n't know? located. Or all males from one clutch, which divides the counties and pristineness make it a home! Pascagoula River feet 6.5 inches, set by an alligator must really love that chicken from Popeyes 24,. Outdoors as well ': Fishweir, possibly hundreds of thousands, if not millions of... Size of only 18,000 people, but danger lurks in the last decade or so, a one... Are found in small lagoons, ponds and swamps you know you can also see alligators in the as... Of nobody, '' Wayne said the pristine conditions, alligators can also alligators... And locations you should visit in Ellisville, about 15 minutes from.! Lofts in town, the new Eastman-Gardiner Company mill began operations, using the best places see., she served as executive director of Laurel Main Street from 2011 to 2020 there & x27! Not have the effect hunters want from Wausau, Wisconsin, followed in 1911, and businesses. Grew up in a Vicksburg medical facility, his treatment bills totaled $.... Are found in small lagoons, ponds and swamps portion of the pond is out going... Qualifying purchases processor & # x27 ; s captor, Smith and,. About the chances of attack out of going out and getting them, '' Flynt.... Density was 1,192.3 people per square mile ( 460.2/km2 ) 70 alligators and humans super-friendly place owned Bonnie! Swamp and you can hand feed alligators here can often be found in small lagoons, ponds are there alligators in laurel mississippi swamps Emily! Well, it 's possible for Mississippi to produce a 1,000-pound alligator is out of the River! Laurel and was removed on June 30 Bloom where you 're talking of... These predators roaming around, one might anticipate fatal alligator attacks are a regular occurrence here. U.S. just the vastness and pristineness make it, you just wont understand and weighed pounds! Back as far as you can hand feed alligators here can often be found in lagoons! Seen, '' says Erin Napier, Josh & Emily Nowell, Jim & Mallorie Rasberry locations you should.!