Alligators can be found in every county of the state, but southeast Mississippi reigns king. Another issue he noted is people trying to get close to bears to take photographs. Love Mississippi? The officer used a catch pole to secure it and put the gator in a dog box in the back of his truck. Our grand opening for Sweet Somethings Bakery was in 2016, and it was one of the biggest that Laurel had ever had. We thought we'd be in our 60s before that really happened, but in 2009 it became pretty clear that it was time for us to make a change and this was the place. Because it is illegal to hunt alligators in Mississippi, they grow bigger than their counterparts in nearby Louisiana and Florida. Thank you for reading! It doesn't have claws, teeth or venom, either. The message is so beautifully rendered, in warm colors with exquisite workmanship, that it tells you all you need to know: Somebody loves this place. The ants here in Mississippi definitely mean business. And with that, were going to discuss and talk about the most alligator-infested lakes and places in the state of Mississippi, so if you dont want to miss out on seeing a live alligator or have been wanting to avoid one, then this rundown of gator infested lakes is for you. "He does what he wants to do.". "It was just us and the feral cats. It's likely the reptiles are migrating from Mississippi, where there is a. Adrien Lamarre, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers / public domain License. and signals that you've found the historic district of this small Mississippi town. Opening Hours: For the current opening hours, check the Jackson Zoo website. I got involved after college. It's in the most pristine watersheds in North America. I went to my car in tears, and I said to myself, 'Well, I guess I'm moving here.' "It will affect the rest of your life and your family.". Where to Find Alligators in the Mississippi River (Breakfast is included for guests of their B&B upstairs.). "It was kind of fake it till you make it," says Erin Napier. GULFPORT, Miss. "My mother was working at Lott Furniture Co. for 12 years before I was born. Bockman has stored his prize catch in a deer processor's walk-in cooler. You may also consult Extension Publication 3529, Snakes Alive! Today, there are about 30,000 of them in the state. A Laurel animal control officer, who usually rounds up stray dogs and cats, spent some time this week capturing a four-foot-long alligator that made an unwelcome visit to a city restaurant. 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. But it can also be a killer. Take into account the pristine conditions, alligators have been widespread down there going back as far as you can imagine.". ", The Napiers and their friends were not the only ones making headway here. Amtrak's Crescent train connects Laurel with the cities of New York City; Philadelphia; Baltimore; Washington, D.C.; Charlotte, North Carolina; Atlanta; Birmingham, Alabama; and New Orleans. We knew exactly what we were called here to do. "I said man, this beats everything I've ever seen," Wayne said. "It's a bad situation," Newell said. The city lies on a low ridge between Tallahala Creek to the east and Tallahoma Creek to the west. Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. "I put my foot where I couldn't see," Sanders said. You will immediately recognize the lovely Gardiner Park which is featured so often on Home Town. 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? But there was a time in the 1990s when I felt like this was the only retail store downtown. Not only did Sanders endure pain and several days in a Vicksburg medical facility, his treatment bills totaled $442,000. In the process, they can lose teeth, along with when they fight. After a long career as a teacher, choral director, member of the Mississippi Arts Commission, and more, she became a major catalyst in the transformation of the town. 11 The Estimated Alligator Population In Florida Is Around One Million. Even in Louisiana there are people who live and hunt in areas with high densities of bears and never have a problem.". The charming town of Laurel, Mississippi came to prominence as the yellow pine capital but most recently has appeared on the hit HGTV show Home Town, which premiered in 2016. Their eyes, ears, and nostrils are placed on top of their long head and project slightly above the water when the reptiles float at the surface, as they . The name of the hunter was not released. In the center of town, book a spacious room with soaring ceilings above Sweet Somethings Bakery. Address: 2918 W Capitol St, Jackson, MS 39209. According to the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks, there are about 55 alligators currently making Okatibbee Lake their home. "They just don't like people is what it comes down to. There were 6,925 households, out of which 29.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.2% were married couples living together, 23.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.4% were non-families. "That rating of a two goes to a nine or 10," Flynt said. "They (Florida) have a tremendously larger. 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. The city of Laurel was incorporated in 1882, with timber as the impetus. I'm an HGTV junkie, so one night I was hunched over my computer, and here came a new TV show, Home Townfirst season, first episode. According to the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks, there are about 55 alligators currently making Okatibbee Lake their home. Alligators are large reptiles with armored bodies, four short legs and a flat tail. Nearly everyone you talk to in Laurel points to Judi Holifield as a powerful agent of change in the community. Built in 1910, it's listed on the Mississippi Historical Registry and was owned by William Carroll Gartin, Laurel's mayor in the 1960s and a three-term lieutenant governor of Mississippi. Our first full day of travel of #roadtrip2017 was a visit to Laurel, Mississippi home of Home Town. Whena tooth breaks off, a new one grows to take its place. City officials said restaurant staff noticed the unusual guest in the drive-thru lane. Im slowly working my way around the world and sharing my journey as I go. ", "I was born and raised in Ellisville, about 15 minutes from here. 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. 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. Alligators living in states without alligator hunters can reproduce more and attain greater sizes. 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]. Although alligators can be found in ponds, lakes, canals, rivers, swamps, and bayous in Louisiana, they are most common in our coastal marshes. Theres plenty of places to see alligators in their natural habitat all over Mississippi from Jackson to the Mississippi Coast. When buying cowboy boots, there are a few aspects to consider, such as how far up they go on your legs and their design. Keep your eyes peeled on the water and you might just spot an alligator. The hunting crew also included Charles Thompson, Ricky Googins and Rick Googins. 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. The owner of Pearl's Diner dishes out homegrown hospitality. There was a group of ladies wanting to take pictures and everyone just having fun . The heaviest one taken (during the 2012 permit hunting season) down there was 636 pounds. For hunters, there is another serious danger that awaits. 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. The current length record is 13 feet 6.5 inches, set by an alligator taken on the Pascagoula River in 2008. When I got back, I said, 'All my friends are gone, deceasedwhat am I gonna do?' (Book onlinehe stays busy!). [6], The economic prosperity of Laurel's timber era (18931937) and "timber families" created the famed Laurel Central Historic District as a byproduct. Andru1308/Flickr. Of those, about five are fatal each year. In July, the female alligator creates a nest from mud, plants and sticks in which she lays her eggs. I would say that is due to the overall habitat down there the population can maintain itself better than populations in other inland waterways.". The department usually has one gator call each year, but this makes the second one this year. By the time an animal control officer showed up, the gator had taken cover under a pile of pallets next to the restaurants dumpster. In truth, they aren't. "We don't know exactly how many sets of teeth they go through, but we think it's 2,000 to 3,000," Flynt said. Several cautions by the lake management are now made to prevent further interaction with potentially-dangerous alligators. Thank you! My grandmother owned a restaurant, and because I was the oldest grandchild and a girl, she always had me around. Hes keeping a century-old business alive. The Jackson Zoo currently has around 250 animals representing over 120 different species. Alligators range from central Texas eastward to North Carolina. "I did some work for the Laurel Retail Merchants Association in the '70s. A lot of outsiders are unaware of this fact, which is quite alright because the last thing we need is a ton of people swarming to our state. Yes, there are alligators all over Mississippi but the highest populations of alligators are found in the southeast region of the state. 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. 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. The ranch features a walking bridge that crosses a couple of acres of enclosed space allowing you to get an incredible birds-eye view of the alligators. If youre looking for somewhere to see alligators in Mississippi then youre in the right place. Studies found that inAmerican alligatoreggs, incubation at 93 degrees and above produces mostly males, while incubation at or lower than 86degrees produces mostly females. An alligator estimated to be about 10 feet long caused quite a stir along Highway 11 north near Thermo-kool, a short distance south of 24th Street in Laurel. Thin-Legged Wolf Spider. However, that's not typically the case as Flynt said there is usually a range of temperatures in a nest, producing a healthy mix of males and females. You'll receive your first newsletter soon! By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. If you use a windshield cover, you can at least forget about scrapping the ice off your windshield to save some time and hassle. Achim Raschka Public domain picture by U.S. Youre able to go to the ranch and see the alligators in their native habitat. [31] The show portrays renovations of local homes in and near Laurel. . The racial makeup of the city was 55.08% African American, 40.64% White, 0.33% Asian, 0.11% Native American, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 3.17% from other races, and 0.67% from two or more races. "I can't wait to get it on the bank.". I hold seven years of professional experience in the content world, focusing on nature, and wildlife. Many of the homes and buildings of the district are featured on the current HGTV series Home Town. Here arefiveof the many things that make alligators in Mississippi interesting. Jackson County has more alligators than any other county in Mississippi with around 7,500 alligators. This is your guide to discovering Laurel, Mississippi, the official filming location for Home Town on HGTV, starring Laurel's own Erin and Ben Napier. Reuben Lott actually had 11 Mr. Lott stores around the state, but he had no heirs, so he sold his stores to the employees. LAUREL, Miss. I would take photos of a corner downtown that people might overlook. It gives the public the chance to see and study wildlife from the region and from all around the world. The animal Gator caught on Highway 11 | News | leader-call.com Skip to main content Thank you for reading! Another place where you can see alligators is at the Jackson Zoo, located in Jackson. I actually said it out loud. And the man next to her said, 'She's too busy. My wife, Nece, and I would visit from California each summer. Even so, with several deaths each year in Mississippi, West Nile-carrying mosquitoes pose a danger. They won't be seen swimming in the main channel of the river. 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. You will recognize them from the latest hit show on HGTV. "That lifeline will save your life," Newell said. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. If you've ever lived in a small town or are familiar with how . Jones said when we look at the number of mosquito bites, dying from West Nile virus is not likely. I wasn't a businessperson; I'm just a mom. Instead, the state adopted a mandatory online harvest-data collection program in which hunters register the kill and enter the animal's length, sex, location of kill and hours hunted. By the 1920sthe peak of Laurel's lumber productionthe area's four mills were producing a total of one million board feet of lumber per day. Although the odds of dying from a venomous snake bite are low, the pain caused and the price of treatment are extreme. The Top 4 Most Alligator-Infested Lakes In, Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks, A Complete History of Sharks in the Mississippi River. The residents of Laurel pulled together to transform the small town they called home. "Don't try to sneak up on the thing," Young said. "It has a huge amount of food resources between fresh and salt water. Between the gator's captor, Smith and others, the group. Jackson and Hattiesburg are the largest cities with train stations. In 1906, the Gilchrist-Fordney Company, whose founders hailed from Alpena, Michigan, began construction on their own lumber mill in Laurel. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.5 males. "They're an apex predator and in feeding they have to tear their prey apart.". In the park, you're most likely to see alligators in the Davis Bayou Area. Estimates on the population vary, but biologists agree that Mississippi's black bear numbers are growing. In an argument, Blanche tells Harold Mitchell she's brought many victims into her web, and calls the hotel the Tarantula Arms rather than the Hotel Flamingo. The Pascagoula River is around 80 miles long and flows through southeastern Mississippi into the Gulf of Mexico. 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