The American Alligator is an iconic image of the Lowcountry and main attraction of the H2O Alligator and Nature Tour. The Sea Pines Forest Preserve is a wonderful place to observe them in their natural environment. Depending on the time of year, you can see these animals basking in the sun or cooling their body temperature in one of Sea Pines Forest Preserve’s five lakes.
Native to the Island, alligators are often seen, but they can be elusive during the heat of summer and the cold of winter. Alligators will go into a semi-hibernation period during the coldest months of the year, only emerging on the sporadic warm days we receive due to Hilton Head Island’s temperate climate. When this happens, they bask on the banks of lagoons, soaking up the sun’s warmth.
Alligators are ectothermic (cold-blooded), and heat plays a major role in their bodily functions. Digestion and anabolic activity are all reliant on their ability to absorb and maintain body heat. 
If the animal has absorbed too much heat in the middle of summer, they will dive to the bottom of the lakes, burrow into the mud and slow their heart rate to not burn up the oxygen in their system. Alligators can stay submerged for long periods of time, and some have been known to stay underwater for over an hour.
An alligator’s diet consists of fish, birds, and turtles. However, they are scavengers and will eat anything they can find, even something dead and decaying! Because alligators have high levels of stomach acid, they can eat food that other animals, such as humans, find fouled or contaminated. This extraordinary adaptation is a critical aspect of survival for these animals.
Like other reptiles, alligators do not have to eat as much as warm-blooded animals and, depending on their environment’s temperatures, can go long periods of time without eating. However, they are capable of taking down large animals of prey. Visitors or people unfamiliar with the alligator species should proceed with caution because they can be very dangerous to humans.
The American Alligator is a precious natural resource that at one time was considered rare and endangered. Due to conservation efforts and education of the humans that share the same ecosystem and environment, alligators have experienced a rise in numbers and are no longer considered threatened. They are a resource worth protecting and, we as humans, should work in harmony with the alligators to ensure their survival for generations to come.
Written by Anthony R. Savarese of Reel Carolina. To make reservations for the Alligator and Wildlife Tour or the Wine & Cheese Sunset Alligator Tour, please call H2O Sports in Harbour Town at (843) 671-4386. For details on other water activities offered by H2O Sports, visit h2osports.com.