Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo
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American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)

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Description:
Although only 6 to 10 inches at hatching, these very large reptiles grow continuously throughout their whole lives reaching lengths of thirteen to twenty feet and weights from 400 to 2000 pounds.

Habitat:
Swamps, bayous, rivers, lakes, canals…even golf course ponds!

Range:
Southeastern United States from coastal North Carolina south through the Florida Keys and west to Texas.

Diet:
Insects, frogs, fish, turtles and mammals.

Life Span:
Up to 50 years or more for typical American alligators.

Family Life:
Female alligators lay 25 to 60 eggs in a nest of damp vegetation and mud. Mom protects the nest from predators for two to three months until the babies hatch. She will often watch over them after hatching even though they live and hunt on their own. Dad and other alligators are solitary {they live alone). They will eat any creature they can overpower…including other alligators!

Status:
Formerly an Endangered Species, more than one million adult alligators live in the wild today. A conservation success story!
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Alligators have been around longer than dinosaurs, around 65 million years! During this time they’ve remained virtually unchanged. They are built for stealth and strength in the water but can move amazingly fast on land as well. Their eyes, ears and nostrils are on top of a long flat head, enabling them to see, hear and breathe while most of their body is submerged in water. They bite down with 2000 pounds of pressure with a mouth that contains 65 teeth. These teeth are so important to a gator’s survival, they can continually be replaced if an alligator loses one.
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​203-394-6565
​info@beardsleyzoo.org 
1875 Noble Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06610
Open 9am-4pm daily
​Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo is dedicated to acquainting a diverse public to the delicate balance that exists between living things and their environment.

Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo is a 501(c)(3) not for profit owned and operated by the Connecticut Zoological Society.

2019 Kids Out and About #1
Association of Zoos & Aquariums
Connecticut - Still Revolutionary
Weekly Best of Fairfield County Readers' Poll 2014
FC Buzz Events - Arts & Culture of Fairfield County
© 2022 Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo
  • Home
  • About
    • Blog
    • Contact Us
    • Jobs
    • Press
  • Guest Info
    • Accessibility
    • Calendar
    • COVID Guidelines
    • For Kids >
      • Coloring Pages
      • Zoo Patrol
      • Zoo Tots
    • Our Animals >
      • Eastern Rat Snake
    • Our Plants
    • Parents
    • Zoo Cams >
      • Outdoor Red Panda Cam
      • Indoor Red Panda Cam
      • Outdoor Spider Monkey Cam
      • Indoor Spider Monkey Cam
      • Otter Cam
    • Zoo Etiquette
    • Zoo Map
  • Membership
  • Education
    • Citizen Science >
      • FrogWatch
      • MonarchWatch
    • Conservation >
      • City Nature Challenge
      • Conservation Pledge
    • Cool Blue >
      • Cool Blue Schools
    • Programs
    • Educational Resources
    • Evening Lectures
    • Field Trips
    • Just 4 Teens >
      • CDC
      • Explorers
    • Teachers
  • Support
    • Animal Sponsorship
    • Appeal
    • Corporate Support
    • Donate
    • Events
    • Gift Guide
    • Honor & Remember
    • Monthly Giving
    • Naming Opportunities
    • Wish List
  • Parties, Rentals & Weddings
    • Birthdays
    • Private Events
    • Weddings
    • Rates and Details
    • Preferred Vendors
    • Preferred Wedding Vendors
    • Event Guidelines
  • Volunteer
    • Interns
  • Buy Tickets