‘Gators everywhere!' Over 100 alligators surround Georgia boat ramp. See photos
The predators mysteriously surrounded the Jones Island boat dock on Saturday, July 26, resulting in a swirling sea of jaws in every direction.
'There were over a hundred of these big beautiful creatures hanging out and putting on a show,' the park reported in a Facebook post.
'The gators have been chilling, swimming around, catching a few fish (and a turtle!), starting a bit of gator drama in close quarters, and letting out the occasional bellow! It's been an amazing thing to see.'
Park officials didn't say if the gathering disrupted boat rentals.
Stephen C. Foster State Park is remote, about a 295-mile drive southeast from Atlanta and a primary entrance to the 438,000-acre Okefenokee Swamp. It's estimated 12,000 alligators live in the swamp, the park says.
Alligators in Georgia can reach 16 feet and 800 pounds, the state says.
This is the second July in a row a congregation of alligators formed for unknown reasons near the swamp. The 2024 gathering included 150 alligators filling a mile and a half span of water, the University of Georgia's Coastal Ecology Lab reported.
Such congregations involve large numbers of alligators cramming themselves into a small area, University of Georgia Ph.D. student Mark Hoog reported in 2024.
'What we've noticed is it happens during periods of low water, so we think it might have something to do with resources,' Hoog said.
'It might be a feeding event that's triggered during this low water when there's not a ton of resources. They're all coming together, but we're not sure.'
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Research shows that poverty and food insecurity — a condition in which people lack a consistent source of nutritious food —are common risk factors for malnutrition among older adults. 'SNAP is both a lifeline for older adults and a critical public health tool,' said Crystal FitzSimons, president of the Food Research & Action Center, an advocacy group. 'Participating in SNAP can mean extra years of cognitive health, helping older adults remain independent,' instead of moving into nursing homes. The Republican-led House Agriculture Committee has said the funding reduction 'restores SNAP to its original intent—promoting work, not welfare—while saving taxpayer dollars and investing in American agriculture.' Food as medicine Karen Forbes, 61, first participated in SNAP decades ago when she was a single mother of a young child. She reapplied for the program during the pandemic when her pet sitting customers stopped needing her. 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Fact Check: Claim spread squirrels in California have turned carnivorous. We hunted down the details
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