Scientists think the Alligator species has been in existence for 150 million years--a long time considering the dinosaurs became extinct 65 million years ago. In 1967, American Alligators were themselves facing extinction. Their complete recovery by 1987 is a tribute to excellent management by state and federal wildlife agencies. On Avery Island we have actively managed the American Alligator population by collecting eggs and releasing approximately 20 percent of the offspring back into their natural habitat. (Source: McIlhenny Company) This photo appears on on the website www.TABASCO.com, and can be downloaded there at no charge.

Alligators have the strongest laboratory-measured bite of any animal--equivalent to the force of a medium sized sedan falling on someone. Edmund concurs, citing a friend in college who jokingly stuck his fist into the jaws of a young alligator. That youngster clamped down, and it took several strapping young men to free Edmund's friend's fist.

The larger Alligators eat fish, birds, turtles, snakes, mammals, and amphibians. They are quite opportunistic, and will eat whatever they think they can, including dogs, deer, and young alligators. Avery Island lore has it that one large alligator actually ate a pony. The Alligators do serve as protectors of the beautiful egrets that nest on the platforms at Bird City, the rookery in Avery Island's Jungle Gardens. Predators who might otherwise pursue the egrets and their young are kept well under control by the alligators that swim in the waters below

Alligator on Avery Island.

Alligator on Avery Island.

This is an Anhinga, often called a "Snake Bird," because it swims with only its head and long neck above the water. Anhingas have webbed feet, and can dive down and swim underwater in pursuit of fish. They use their sharp beaks to spear their prey.

The Anhinga has webbed feet, which allow it to swim underwater.

Here the Anhinga is earning her "Snake Bird" nickname.

Another reason Anhingas can swim underwater is that they have no oil in their feathers to make them buoyant or water resistant. As a result, they must spread their wings to dry them before they can fly, as this one did on a hot summer day.

Cormorant on a fall sunrise on Avery Island.

Here's lookin' at you, kid! Anhinga in Jungle Gardens on Avery Island, looking as though he has just swallowed a large fish.

Anhinga in Jungle Gardens on Avery Island, looking as though he has just swallowed a large fish.

Cormorants, like this one, are often confused with Anhingas, because both have webbed feet, swim underwater, and dry their wings in the sun. We can distinguish a Cormorant by its curved bill, orange color near its bill, wider body, and shorter tail. Asian fishermen have used some species of Cormorants to help them fish for over 2,000 years--they place a ring around the bird's neck to prevent it from swallowing its catch. Today U.S. fish farmers complain that Cormorants eat way too many catfish from their farm ponds.

Cormorant on Avery Island.

Cormorant on Avery Island.

Cormorant on Avery Island. Its curved beak is one feature that distinguishes it from the Anhinga.

Louisiana Black Bears are distinguished from other American Black Bear subspecies by their longer, narrower skulls and larger molar teeth. They became classified as "threatened" under the Endangered Species Act in 1992, after their population declined markedly due to unregulated hunting and the loss of their habitat. Their hardwood forest habitat was decimated when farmers cleared land for agriculture. Although there are only an estimated 500 to 700 Louisiana Black Bears alive today, their population is increasing. Farmers are now converting marginal bottom lands along the Mississippi River back to hardwood forests, partly because federal and state governments have offered incentives. Because of this recovery, the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service removed the bears from the Endangered Species act in May 2016 in a controversial decision. It is still illegal to hunt these bears. Although Louisiana Black Bears eat mainly acorns and berries, they will eat garbage and whatever else they can find. It is illegal to feed bears in Louisiana, for their protection as well as ours. If they lose their natural fear of people, and learn to expect food from us, they can become dangerous, and may have to be killed. The old saying, "a fed bear is a dead bear," holds very true. Although this one photo is included here, please see our separate gallery devoted entirely to the Louisiana Black Bear for many additional photos. (Source: Black Bear Conservation Coalition)

The Acadiana Advocate reports that although Bobcats are common, they are so elusive and solitary that few people see them in the wild. This Christmas Day 2017 was the first chance we have had to get a photo of a Bobcat here on Avery Island. Louisiana has a Bobcat Refuge, near Lafayette, founded by Pamela Connery in 2010, with a mission of returning Bobcats to the wild. They are helpful to the environment, as they kill venemous snakes that get into duck blinds and deer stands. They mainly pursue rabits, mice, squarrels and birds--and can pounce on a target from 10 feet away. Bobcats are preyed upon by great horned owls, coyotes and ferel pigs. Female Bobcats have litters of 1-6 kittens, who stay with their mother for up to a year.

Avery Island Bobcat on Christmas Day 2017.

The American Coot, common and widespread in our country, is often mistaken for a duck. While it swims in water like a duck, it does not have webbed feet. Instead, its toes have large lobes of skin that help it swim through the water, but fold back each time its foot is raised so it can walk on land easily, too. It eats mainly aquatic plants, and the oldest known Coot lived to be 22 years old. Source: The Cornell Lab or Orinthology "All About Birds."

Buck on Avery Island, Louisiana.