Clemson Researchers Helping Develop Alligator Strategy

The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources has tapped Clemson University researchers to assist in designing a conservation and management strategy for the state’s alligator population.

Clemson’s South Carolina Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit will examine historical and current alligator population surveys and conduct field research to gain a more nuanced and complete picture of the state’s alligator population.

The Clemson researchers will provide scientific support for the agency as it designs a long-term adaptive plan for harvesting alligators in a way that ensures their survival, identifies critical habitats and enhances economic benefits for landowners and alligator hunters.

The Department of Natural Resources currently issues 1,200 alligator harvesting permits per year under the Public Alligator Harvest Program for use during a season that runs from the second Saturday in September to the second Saturday in October.

“South Carolina benefits both ecologically and economically from its alligator population. This research will make it possible for us to adjust harvest numbers annually so that alligators remain an asset to the citizens of South Carolina,” said Katherine McFadden, assistant leader of the South Carolina Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit and assistant professor in Clemson’s School of Agricultural, Forest and Environmental Sciences.

Using field research and computer modeling, the Clemson scientists will verify the accuracy of current alligator surveys and make recommendations for how to improve future surveys and monitoring efforts.

The researchers also will determine how alligator populations are effected by specific habitat characteristics, such as water depth and vegetation type, and identify and quantify the impact of potential environmental stressors, such as drought and contamination.

Additionally, the researchers will monitor mercury levels in alligators as a way to understand the overall health of the ecosystem.

“Since alligators are non-migratory, long-living and near the top of the food chain, alligator health can be a window into ecosystem health," McFadden said. "Alligators also play an important role in influencing the overall ecological patterns of a region by altering the landscape.” 

The range of South Carolina alligators extends south and east on a line from North Augusta through Columbia to north of Bennettsville. The coastal counties of Beaufort, Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton, Georgetown and Jasper have the highest alligator population densities.

The four-year study is funded by a grant from the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and will be led by Clemson University doctoral student Abby Lawson. Clemson researchers also are working on a separate project with nearby states to develop a transboundary alligator harvesting and conservation strategy.