Building a Mound Nest
Female alligators construct large nests out of mud, sticks, and vegetation, often piled several feet high and several feet across. As the plant material inside the mound decomposes, it generates heat that helps incubate the eggs — a natural process similar to composting.
A Clutch of 30 to 50 Eggs
A typical clutch contains 30 to 50 eggs, which incubate for roughly 65 days. As with many reptiles, the temperature inside the nest during incubation determines the sex of the hatchlings — warmer nests tend to produce more males, while cooler nests produce more females.
A Surprisingly Attentive Mother
Unlike most reptiles, female alligators guard their nests closely, defending them against raccoons, birds, and other predators that would otherwise raid the eggs. When hatchlings are ready to emerge, they call out with high-pitched chirps, prompting the mother to help uncover the nest.
Protection That Continues After Hatching
After hatching, the mother often carries her young to the water in her mouth and continues to watch over them for up to a year or more, an unusually long period of parental care for a reptile. Even with this protection, only a small fraction of hatchlings survive to adulthood, as young alligators face many predators of their own.
