Connect with her on LinkedIn. The Waterfront Hiking Trail In Mississippi Will Capture Your Imagination, Treat Yourself To A Homemade Ice Cream Cone At The Velvet Cream In Mississippi, This Secluded Nature Trail In Mississippi Is So Worthy Of An Adventure, This Enchanting And Historic Island In Mississippi Is The Perfect Day Trip Destination, 15 Things You Quickly Learn When You Move To Mississippi, 12 Things Only True Mississippians Can Tell You About Life In Mississippi, 10 Reasons Why People From Mississippi Are Unbelievably Tough, 11 Stereotypes About Mississippi That Need To Be Put To Rest Right Now, 11 Life Lessons Everyone Learns Growing Up In Mississippi.. This story was originally published February 20 . There's a real possibility of being eaten alive. Because of those factors, Flynt said the danger they pose is low. I wasn't a businessperson; I'm just a mom. Youll see a variety of other animals at the Gulf Islands National Seashore in Ocean Springs such as lizards, snakes, turtles, raccoons, birds and much more. ':Alligator kills Mississippi woman's dog. The location of that shotgun house I grew up in was 401 South Cooks Avenue. If you use a windshield cover, you can at least forget about scrapping the ice off your windshield to save some time and hassle. They are very strong and capable.". She's known for creating beautiful lifestyle books that are inviting, real, and accessible. After graduating from the University of Southern Mississippi, Daniella began to hone her writing skills through various internships, working for The Royal Obsession and Anatomie clothing. A longtime resident, she served as executive director of Laurel Main Street from 2011 to 2020. Wonder where the locals eat, things to do at night, or where to find the best shops and boutiques? In Mississippi, venomous species include the Eastern Diamondback rattlesnake, pygmy rattlesnake, timber rattlesnake, cottonmouth, coral snake and the most common, the copperhead. A good field guide to reptiles can help you identify snakes and understand their habits. Are there alligators in the Mississippi River?Watch more videos for more knowledgeAlligators in the Mississippi Delta - YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch. Thin-Legged Wolf Spider. All rights reserved. On the broad side of a brick building, in old-timey type, it sends out a "Welcome!" I watched the town die and saw the people try to save it." The Jackson Zoo does have alligators in one of their exhibits. "It's just like a spider web of rivers and bayous that are alligator habitat. 30.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. [19], The United States Postal Service operates the Laurel Post Office and the Choctaw Post Office, both located in Laurel. In alligator habitats, if you feed fish species on a regular basis, using mechanical feeders of fish is expressly forbidden. The alligators can also often be seen lounging around along the banks of the lakes. Problems arise when bears are lured out of their element by food and venture closer to humans than they normally would. The Chinese alligator can lay 10 to 50. Not only are the mosquitoes huge, theyre relentless. He advised neighbors to be aware of your surroundings, keep your pets on a leash and the leave it to animal control if you encounter a critter. Something was pulling us back here. Thanks for reading this post on where to see alligators in Mississippi. ", "I was born and raised in Ellisville, about 15 minutes from here. Once considered an endangered species in the late 1960s, American Alligators have made a big comeback in the swampy marsh areas surrounding the Mississippi River. "I graduated from Oak Park High School here in Laurel in 1966. Dana Sanders, Jr. of Hurley was bitten last year by a large timber rattlesnake in Claiborne County. This year (season ended Sept. 17) we had several 500-pound plus.". I hold seven years of professional experience in the content world, focusing on nature, and wildlife. You will immediately recognize the lovely Gardiner Park which is featured so often on Home Town. 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. [6], The economic prosperity of Laurel's timber era (18931937) and "timber families" created the famed Laurel Central Historic District as a byproduct. We recently estimated that there are 32,000-38,000 alligators and about 408,000 acres of alligator habitat in Mississippi. Most alligators in Mississippi can be found in the southern two thirds of the state. The mayor is elected at-large. 2023 www.clarionledger.com. JONES COUNTY, MS (WDAM) - A Jones County family business traps nuisance animals that people are scared of like snakes, bats and even alligators. Just the vastness and pristineness make it a great home for alligators to thrive in. I do believe 1,000-pounders could be there.". It has many large lakes that serve as a refuge for all kinds of animals including alligators. The hunts do not include Okatibbee Lake. We opened in 2017, and now there are very few days you can come in here that we don't have a full house.". They have a long rounded snout with upward facing nostrils so they can breathe while the rest of . 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. 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. That's my measure. If a person is bitten by a venomous snake, the Mississippi State Department of Health suggests keeping the affected area at or slightly below the level of the heart and getting the victim to a hospital as quickly as possible. "But I can remember 10 years ago there was an alligator taken off the Pascagoula River near the 1-10 boat ramp that weighed 938 pounds. 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. Laurel was the big city for us. Mississippi does have six types of venomous snakes: copperhead, coral snake, pygmy rattlesnake, eastern diamondback rattlesnake, canebrake or timber rattlesnake, and cottonmouth or water moccasin. However, not anyone can trap gators because it is illegal, and a person could get fined up to $10,000. Laurel is in north-central Jones County, 8 miles (13km) northeast of Ellisville, the first county seat. :What to know about the chances of attack. "In a natural setting, a bear in the woods and you're walking in the woods, the chance of an encounter is slim to none. So it was really hard to even entertain the idea of doing something else, but I was in a high-pressure management job and beginning to deal with some ageism, kind of getting squeezed out. "That lifeline will save your life," Newell said. Wherever you are in Mississippi, theres plenty of options here to see alligators in their natural habitat and in zoos. That number of annual fatalities is about average, he said. If you've ever lived in a small town or are familiar with how . 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. The rebirth of Laurel, Mississippi, is proof of what real people can do with a little creativity, a lot of commitment, and a deep well of love. By the 1990s, its downtown was mostly abandoned, with businesses shuttered and buildings crumbling. 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? It is also popular among wildlife enthusiasts for opportunities to encounter a wide range of species within a small radius. At the time, the alligator population had suffered a severe . Thank you for reading! Jackson County is home to an estimated 12,500 alligators. With over 408,000 acres of possible alligator habitat, an estimated 32,000-38,000 alligators have lived in Mississippi. 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. Laurel is the principal city of a micropolitan statistical area named for it. Four deaths a year may not seem like a large number. "They're climbing 20 to 25 feet.". Ben and I were the storytellers. "I put my foot where I couldn't see," Sanders said. [7] The area is considered the largest, finest, and most intact collection of the early 20th century architecture in Mississippi and has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since September 4, 1987,[8] for both its historical value and for its wide variety of architectural styles. That was one of the things that propelled me to get into city government: I didn't want younger residents to say, 'I don't want to stay here.' Asides from writing, I enjoy surfing the internet and listening to music. 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Fishing is also an excellent sport here, as the lake hosts many fish species such as the channel catfish, flathead catfish, black crappie, white crappie, blue catfish, green sunfish, and white bass. Check out the huge alligator spotted at the refuge in the video below: Another fantastic place in Mississippi where you can see alligators in the wild is at Gulf Islands National Seashore. In addition to influencing a diverse architectural district, the "timber families" of Laurel influenced the building of the town's broad avenues, the design of numerous public parks, and the development of strong public schools.[9]. ContactBrian Broomat 601-961-7225 orbbroom@gannett.com. Flynt said it's possible for Mississippi to produce a 1,000-pound alligator that easily could top 18 feet. Yes, there are alligators in the Mississippi River and the swampy marshes around it. Hattiesburg Zoo is a small 12-acre zoo that is home to a variety of animals from all around the world including alligators. On December 28, 1954, an F3 tornado tore directly through the city, injuring 25 people.[12]. "I get an adrenaline rush off it each time, especially when you look out across the water and see one with his eyes about a foot apart," Parker said. Alligators . (Breakfast is included for guests of their B&B upstairs.). Here arefiveof the many things that make alligators in Mississippi interesting. According to the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks, there are about 55 alligators currently making Okatibbee Lake their home. Alligator mississippiensis Status: Threatened Classification: Reptile Description American alligators are large crocodilians found only in the United States. With so many of these predators roaming around, one might anticipate fatal alligator attacks are a regular occurrence. 401 South Cooks Avenue $ 10,000 in one of their element by food and closer! The internet and listening to music 12 ] 13km ) northeast of Ellisville, the population. 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