Tick-Tock (American alligator)
Alligator mississippiensis
The
American alligator is the largest reptile in North America. The body coloration is generally black with yellowish
or cream cross bands, but with age, the coloration fades. Alligators when awakened or threatened let
out a menacing hiss. They can grow to
almost 20 feet. They live in fresh or
brackish bodies of water. They naturally
occur from the coastal areas of southern North Carolina around Florida and as
far as Texas. Their numbers were much
reduced because of the value of their hides.
The young often appear in pet stores in those states where alligators
are legal—California is not one of those states.
Tick-Tock was brought to Critter Creek by a Fish and Game warden
who discovered it in the back of a pick-up truck. The warden had caught the man with buckets of
crawdads. The warden asked him what he
planned to do with so many crawdads. He
said he needed them to feed his reptiles and invited the warden to see his
alligator. We were contacted by the
department to hold the alligator as evidence.
Once the court case was settled, we became Tick-Tock’s permanent
home. He has grown considerably over the
past seven years and we hope to provide him a larger enclosure. He is one of our popular destinations for
pre-teen boys who love to hear him hiss.