The movie and media industries have often painted Alligators and most crocodilians as big, bad, dangerous creatures. But how true are these claims? Is it possible that alligators are actually friendly to humans and themselves? Can they be domesticated or tamed? Read on to find out.
Are Alligators Friendly to Humans?
Alligators are territorial animals, meaning they are not the friendliest to keep. Their unpredictable behavior makes them creatures to be wary of. There have been reports where alligators exhibited calmness and even shyness toward humans.
However, their unpredictable behavior and inherent natural nature to switch from calmness to hostility confirm they are not so open to human friendship.
Are Alligators Friendly to Themselves?
Alligators enjoy living alone, but finding a group of alligators coexisting isn’t unusual. A dominant male will coexist with several females. Also, juvenile males can stay with a family of crocodiles until adulthood. Two adult male alligators hardly live in the same territory without occasional fights.
In the mating season, male alligators fight each other for mating rights. Though these fights barely lead to serious injuries before subdued alligators concede defeat.
Are Alligators Territorial?
Alligators are territorial and defend themselves and more vulnerable family members from perceived threats. These threats could be other animals or humans. All the same, alligators will not hesitate to attack a territory invader.
Are Alligators Afraid of Humans?
Alligators have a natural fear of humans. This fear is due to their inability to determine if taller humans can harm and kill them. Wild alligators become less fearful when they are hand fed and may start associating humans with food. They could even start attacking at that point. To counter this risk, Florida is one of the States to ban the feeding of alligators.
Can You Have an Alligator As A Pet?
It is strongly advised never to buy pet alligators as they are not pets. Alligators are very aggressive creatures and automatically exhibit a fight-and-bite response without provocation. So that baby alligator pet you want will only grow into an extremely territorial adult.
Can Alligators Be Domesticated?
Even expert professionals have been unable to domesticate alligators. You cannot have a domesticated alligator because they are naturally wild. Even if you breed an alligator right from when it was hatched, it would still show mean aggression as it increases in size and strength. You could even end up in a life-and-death situation on a bad day.
Can Alligators Be Tamed?
Alligators cannot be tamed naturally, which is why you cannot own a Chinese or an American alligator pet. Only experts and professionals have ever achieved limited success taming alligators.
It takes techniques like operant conditioning to control alligators’ innate tendencies. Even with the effort, the result will only be a moderately tamed alligator that can still turn on its trainers and severely (even fatally) attack them.
Do Alligators Have Feelings?
Alligators have feelings, but they are not caring. Aggression and fear are the major feelings alligators show towards perceived threats like humans. Both emotions help them determine when to fight or take off from a threat.
Captured alligators can show excited behaviors when they see the person who often feeds them. This excitement should not be misinterpreted as love, as the alligators only see a food source in the person.
Do Alligators and Crocodiles Get Along?
There is rarely any alligator vs crocodile aggression in the wild, as both reptiles barely share territories. The Florida Everglades is the only place that actively accommodates crocodiles and alligators, and both rarely ever fight. Both species are not friends but are tolerant of each other.
Frequently Asked Questions – Comparing Alligators and Crocodiles
Crocodile Vs. Alligator Which Is More Dangerous?
Crocodiles are more aggressive and dangerous than alligators. While the latter is reserved, the former often fight without provocations and is likelier to attack an unsuspecting human. Crocodiles also have stronger bite force than alligators and are more animalistic.
Can Crocodiles Be Friendly?
Crocodiles are not friendly because it is not in their nature. Crocodiles’ territorial instincts always kick in when humans and animals get too close, increasing the likelihood of attack.
Do Crocodiles Have Feelings?
Crocodiles will protect their unhatched eggs, the highest level of kindness they can exhibit. Their major feelings are aggression, fear, and hunger, which are not great caring attributes.
Can Crocodiles Be Tamed?
Crocodiles are very aggressive and can never be 100% tamed. While multiple techniques can be employed, the fact that crocodiles have very small brains makes it difficult for them to kill off their basic natural instincts and replace them with calmer, corrected behaviors. At best, only moderate success will be achieved in taming a crocodile.
Can You Train A Crocodile?
Crocodiles can be trained to behave in certain ways when subjected to long periods of special training. These training and conditions are performed by experts and only achieve specific results.
They do not totally kill off the crocodile’s natural behaviors, and, at best, subdue them significantly. Even with the best training, it is possible for the crocodiles to sometimes go against training and act on basic instances when triggered.
Can You Tame A Crocodile?
Just like alligators, you cannot successfully tame crocodiles. Crocodiles are one of the most aggressive creatures that act on the three primitive basic instincts: Aggression, hunger, and fear. They have not evolved past these for centuries and will likely never do.
Can Alligators and Crocodiles Mate?
Crocodiles and alligators cannot mate. While they are from the same order, they are different species with different genetics, making crossbreeding impossible. While science-backed modifications could offer a possibility, the current state is 100% impossible.
Can Crocodiles Feel Love?
Crocodiles show a level of care and empathy by rubbing softly against themselves. However, it is not easy to qualify it as love. What is clear is that the actions human qualifies as love for each other do exist with crocodiles.
Can Crocodiles Be Domesticated?
Crocodiles cannot be domesticated. They are very aggressive and will hurt even professional trainers when they sense weakness. Crocodiles have one of the strongest bite forces, making them extremely dangerous. Do not attempt to domesticate them so you do not put yourself, loved ones, and neighbors at risk.
Where & How to See Alligators in Your State?
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Other Articles to Learn More About Alligators
- American Alligator: Characteristics, Diet, Facts & More [Fact Sheet]
- Alligators – 30 Amazing Facts, Info & Pictures
- Are Alligators Dangerous to Humans? What You Need to Know
- Baby Alligator Sounds: The Meanings Behind The Chirps
- Are Alligators Nocturnal? All About The Sleep Habits of Alligators
- Do Alligators Have Tongues?
- What Do Alligators Eat? All About Their Diet
- What Eats An Alligator? Top 12 Alligator Predators
