The American alligator is big business, especially in the states of Louisianna, Florida and Texas, where there are alligator farms and ranches, skinning and processing houses, breeding ponds, swamp tours, and alligator feeding and wrestling shows. 

At processing houses, alligators are pumped with air so their skin can be retrieved, then their meat is taken and their skulls are air-dried.

Many items are made from the skin and teeth of alligators, including boots, wallets, purses and belts from the skin, and necklaces and bracelets from the teeth.

Alligators are a threatened, legally-protected species, often confused with crocodiles, an endangered species, because each is similar to the other.
 
When first documented in the 1770's, alligators were said to be so numerous in Florida waters, that a man could walk from land to alligator to land, without ever touching water! However, by the early 1940's, with no regulations on alligator harvesting, there was a noticeable decline in their numbers. Hunting restrictions were placed in the 1940's and 1950's, and in 1962, alligators were protected under Florida law when an amendment of the Lacey Law made the interstate shipping of alligators a federal violation. By 1970, alligator poaching was greatly diminished.

Alligators mate is open water, around March, April and May. In June through July, females retreat to marshy land, where they make a nest and lay their eggs. Females stay in these areas until the following mating season, while males stay in open water areas.

Today, about 1.5-million hides are sold internationally, especially to North America, Europe and Japan, where alligator meat is also in demand. This number is down from about 5-million hides that were shipped internationally, 20 years ago.

In cold weather, alligators become dormant, or inactive, and do not grow. In their first year, about 50% of the food an alligator consumes goes to its weight. By its 3rd to 4th year, this rates slows to about 10%, similar to the food-to-body-weight conversion rate for cattle.  Also see our Guide to seeing live alligators in Florida.
Alligator Products & Collectibles