Plane Tails / Endangered Animals /

Harper the Alligator

Harper the Alligator

American alligators are found in the southeastern United States, with the largest populations in Florida and Louisiana. They live in various freshwater habitats, including rivers, lakes, ponds, swamps, bayous, and marshes. Alligators are apex predators, meaning they are at the top of the food chain. They eat a variety of prey, including fish, birds, mammals, and reptiles. Alligators are well-adapted to life in the water. They have webbed feet and muscular tails that help them swim. They can also hold their breath underwater for long periods. Alligators are not very agile on land but can move quickly in short bursts.

Once on the brink of extinction, American alligators have made a remarkable comeback. Today, over a million of these reptiles survive in the wild, thanks in large part to conservation efforts. However, alligators still face threats, including habitat destruction and human encroachment placing them on the Federally protected by the Endangered Species Act as a Threatened species, due to their similarity of appearance to the American crocodile. Harper’s name comes from the Harper’s Beauty, a federally listed plant species in Florida. This flowering plant not only shares similar habitats with alligators but also faces identical challenges.

Endangered Animals Initiative

Frontier is dedicated to bringing awareness to the endangered animals within the continental U.S.A. You can learn more about our endangered animal tails here.