In some counties, 20% of alligator sightings are above ten feet long. The amazing-ness of Mississippi is definitely not lost on us locals. Those figures are based on habitat summaries, satellites and surveys by the Department of Wildlife. And the beautiful mural on the side of a once-dilapidated building? Laurel is in north-central Jones County, 8 miles (13km) northeast of Ellisville, the first county seat. And the man next to her said, 'She's too busy. They're expending no energy and they're living off body fat.". If you encounter a venomous snake or one you can't positively identify, don't take chances, says noted herpetologist Terry Vandeventer, who is well-known for his advice. The Pascagoula River is around 80 miles long and flows through southeastern Mississippi into the Gulf of Mexico. Alligators are found in coastal habitats from Texas to South Carolina, and occasionally venture into saltwater. When they die, some must sink into the deep ocean. Symptoms of the virus are generally mild. Families and tourists will have a lot to do when visiting this lake, with one full-service campground, four parks, and three designated swimming areas. Well, it's a sign of the times. The Pascagoula River and its pristine drainage system make its bayous an excellent habitat for alligators. Between 2019 and 2020 the population of Laurel, MS declined from 18,508 to 18,403, a 0.567% decrease and its median household income grew from $31,968 to $34,114, a 6.71% increase. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.5 males. It's in the most pristine watersheds in North America. 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. That's all good. Did you know that 84 species of reptiles, 426 species of birds, and over 120 species of fish make Mississippi their forever home? The roadways are filled with obstacles. To find the gator pond, turn right onto Robert McGhee Road from Park Road. If you've ever lived in a small town or are familiar with how . 37.5% of those under the age of 18 and 19.3% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line. So, how can they survive without eating from roughly mid-October through mid-March? [22][23], The Mississippi Department of Mental Health South Mississippi State Hospital Crisis Intervention Center is in Laurel. Jackson and Hattiesburg are the largest cities with train stations. The most relevant alligator sighting here happened in 2011 when a visitor at the lake spotted and captured a photo of a small 3-foot alligator at the Mississippi River. . In Mississippi, there is no record of an alligator attack, fatal or not. Still, the most relevant can be dated to last year, in 2021, when someone spotted a 12-foot gator within the Pascagoula River drainage system. The premise of the show is simple, and wonderful all at once. You'll receive your first newsletter soon! With over 408,000 acres of possible alligator habitat, an estimated 32,000-38,000 alligators have lived in Mississippi. I would take photos of a corner downtown that people might overlook. JONES COUNTY, MS (WDAM) - A Jones County family business traps nuisance animals that people are scared of like snakes, bats and even alligators. With over 408,000 acres of possible alligator habitat, an estimated 32,000-38,000 alligators have been living here. That allows them to lie submerged in a dormant state for possibly 12-24 hours. On colder days, they usually stay in the water but you may still see their head bobbing in and out of the water every now and again. Each tag holder is allowed to harvest two alligators that are a minimum of 4 feet. Alligators living in states without alligator hunters can reproduce more and attain greater sizes. Fourteen northern Mississippi counties have produced no alligator records, but nuisance alligator complaints have come from as far north as Coahoma, Lafayette, and Itawamba Counties. "There is no question that the coastal region, especially the Pascagoula River, is home to some of the largest alligators in Mississippi," Flynt said. Wayne, an alligator trapper,said he had to put the alligator down because it was too big to relocate. With large teeth and bone-crushing jaws, large alligators can easily kill a human. Missouri somehow sounds as if there should be alligators. "I did some work for the Laurel Retail Merchants Association in the '70s. The Jackson Zoo currently has around 250 animals representing over 120 different species. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.87% of the population. Ricky Flynt, Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks Alligator Program coordinator, said it's a fascinating animal. The 15 Deepest Lakes in the United States, The 10 Largest Man-Made Lakes in the United States, Whats the Largest Man Made Lake in Pennsylvania, The Most Alligator Infested Lakes in Mississippi. alligator, (genus Alligator), either of two crocodilians related to the tropical American caimans (family Alligatoridae). The alligator was once an endangered species in the US, but it has now made a comeback. "Not in the recorded history of Mississippi history, anyway.". Laurel is the principal city of a micropolitan statistical area named for it. Flynt explained that the muscles used to bite down on prey are extremely strong, those used to open their mouths aren't. Okay, you have to admit, hes kind of cute. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Combined with alligators in Jackson County, the two make up almost 30% of Mississippis alligator population. In 2017, a fishing couple caught a dead 10-foot alligator in the Neuse River near New Bern, according to N&O archives. For the six of us, all in our twenties, it was like a game: How can we make downtown Laurel feel alive again? The Pascagoula River is one place capable of it.". As long as people and alligators have shared Mississippi, there have been people who hunted the creatures. Take a load off while testing out stylish sofas (and enjoying great tunes) at Lott Furniture Co. Stroll through the Lauren Rogers Museum of Art, and catch a glimpse of gorgeous architecture on the walk over, including City Hall and the Arabian Theatre. According to TWRA, all of the confirmed gator sightings have been in the extreme southwest part of the state. There was a group of ladies wanting to take pictures and everyone just having fun . 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? "Don't try to sneak up on the thing," Young said. According to the United States Census Bureau, Laurel has a total area of 16.5 square miles (42.8km2), of which 15.8 square miles (40.8km2) are land and 0.3 square miles (0.8km2), or 1.81%, are water. [4] Yellow pine forests in the region fueled the industry. The 12-foot-1 alligator was killed by a hunter in the Forest Home Chute area, just off the Mississippi River, officials said on Facebook. The alligator was living in a private lagoon in Laurel and was removed on June 30. 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. Although alligators can be found in ponds, lakes, canals, rivers, swamps, and bayous in Louisiana, they are most common in our coastal marshes. "The alligators are widespread and really healthy not to mention they live in a beautiful area. Keep your eyes peeled on the water and you might just spot an alligator. The officer used a catch pole to secure it and put the gator in a dog box in the back of his truck. Are There Alligators In Laurel, Mississippi? Most of our clientele were doctors' offices, real estate agents, and banks in Laurel. . American alligators have been all over the headlines in Alabama recently from gator hunts in south Alabama, to a rogue 10-footer killed in Oxford. Another zoo in Mississippi that has alligators is Hattiesburg Zoo, located within Kamper Park in Hattiesburg. Small portions are in the Jones County School District.[25]. ':Alligator kills Mississippi woman's dog. A longtime resident, she served as executive director of Laurel Main Street from 2011 to 2020. Many of the homes and buildings of the district are featured on the current HGTV series Home Town. 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. "I'd been in Denver, Colorado, most of my adult life (though I grew up on a big farm in South Dakota). 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. [24], Almost all of Laurel is within the Laurel School District. And the python was missing its head. They are very strong and capable.". On a recent MDWFP sanctioned hunt, Lisa A. Pflug was able to kill a 12-foot alligator on the Wolf River. (AP) The lower three counties of South Mississippi are home to 38 percent of the state's alligators. Erin Napier Pens Inspiring Note About How Far Laurel, Mississippi, Has Come, What It's Really Like To Have Your Home Renovated On Ben And Erin Napier's 'Home Town', Ree Drummond Convinced Ben And Erin Napier To Star In Upcoming Christmas Movie. "They just don't like people is what it comes down to. Alligators . Spend the night at Laurel Cottages,an Airbnb just a few blocks from downtown that's run by Mallorie and Jim Rasberry. I kept a journal online, and I mocked up some murals in Photoshop. Despite the large population of alligators in South Mississippi, state wildlife officials say there has never been a reported alligator attack on humans. Studies found that inAmerican alligatoreggs, incubation at 93 degrees and above produces mostly males, while incubation at or lower than 86degrees produces mostly females. Common throughout North America, the Thin-Legged Wolf Spider will send chills down your spine just by looking at it! Just the vastness and pristineness make it a great home for alligators to thrive in. And my father said, 'You're still healthy, you love to cook, and you've got a passion for dealing with people. Alligator Management. 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. 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. "It's nothing but an insurance policy. "We've never had a single documented attack. Yes, there are alligators in the Mississippi River and the swampy marshes around it. It's likely the reptiles are migrating from Mississippi, where there is a. But it didn't always seem that way. However, the last significant sighting dates back to 2017, when someone from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers stated that he saw three alligators at the lake. And I went, 'Wow, I must go there!' Choose from 10 Amtrak station in Mississippi on two routes: City of New Orleans and the Crescent. The current length record is 13 feet 6.5 inches, set by an alligator taken on the Pascagoula River in 2008. The address of City Hall is also 401. He leads a Laurel that's worlds away from the town of his childhood memories. 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. "I put my foot where I couldn't see," Sanders said. The city was named for thickets of mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia) which were native to the original town site.[5]. Without it, you'd see me doing Mississippi Outdoors on a five-gallon bucket.". The Gulf Islands National Seashore is located in the Davis Bayous area in Ocean Springs right on Mississippis southern coast. It wouldn't be summer or fall in Mississippi without the sounds of mosquitoes buzzing. According to the Kppen Climate Classification system, Laurel has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps. 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