While there have been roughly 30 fatal attacks in the last 60 years, all but two occurred in Florida. The most relevant alligator sighting here happened in 2011 when a visitor at the lake spotted and captured a photo of a small 3-foot alligator at the Mississippi River. "They're an apex predator and in feeding they have to tear their prey apart.". "They're shutting down their respiratory system. A husband and wife duo (Ben & Erin) show their pride in their hometown of Laurel, MS by redoing and remodeling older homes that are being purchased. More than 6,000 acres of the land are licensed to the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks to manage wildlife within this area. "I did some work for the Laurel Retail Merchants Association in the '70s. They're expending no energy and they're living off body fat.". "It has a huge amount of food resources between fresh and salt water. GULFPORT, Miss. Following the 1881 construction of the New Orleans and Northeastern Railroad through the area,[3] economic development occurred rapidly. The median income for a household in the city was $25,988, and the median income for a family was $30,185. After graduating from the University of Southern Mississippi, Daniella began to hone her writing skills through various internships, working for The Royal Obsession and Anatomie clothing. I grew up in a community called the KC in a three-room shotgun house. The animal Gator caught on Highway 11 | News | leader-call.com Skip to main content Thank you for reading! It seems very plausible to imagine an alligator floating elegantly, its silhouette adding a threatening component to the famous view of the Gateway Arch. "Harrison County ranks No. Located in the heart of the piney woods ecoregion of the southeastern United States, the land site that would eventually become Laurel was densely covered with forests of virgin longleaf pine, making the area an attractive one to pioneering lumberjacks and sawmill operators in the late 19th century. That was one of the things that propelled me to get into city government: I didn't want younger residents to say, 'I don't want to stay here.' By the early 1900s, the success of Eastman-Gardner Company's operations in Laurel and the region's superabundance of timber began to attract the attention of other lumber industrialists. In Mississippi, there is no record of an alligator attack, fatal or not. Although the odds of dying from a venomous snake bite are low, the pain caused and the price of treatment are extreme. It maintains its natural marshes and wetlands to provide a habitat for fish and different wildlife species such as the bald eagle, peregrine falcon, sturgeon, turtle, and woodpecker. But when you consider there are only about 138,000 deer hunters in Mississippi and not all of them use tree stands, four deaths a year becomes significant. Laurel is packed tight with people like thatcommunity members who care and who use their unique skills to help make a difference. "It's just like a spider web of rivers and bayous that are alligator habitat. They have alligators at Gulf Coast Gator Ranch & Tours. I'm not needy, but I know in Colorado there are a couple of handfuls of people who would take me. By the 1990s, its downtown was mostly abandoned, with businesses shuttered and buildings crumbling. Laurel is the headquarters of the Jones County Sheriff's Department, which administers in the county. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious diseases reported 97 deaths from the virus in 2014 nationwide. In 2010, I started a bakery out of a 10- by 14-foot building beside our house. The current length record is 13 feet 6.5 inches, set by an alligator taken on the Pascagoula River in 2008. The Gulf Coast Gator Ranch currently has around 70 alligators and they describe themselves as a sanctuary for alligators. The American alligator ( Alligator mississippiensis ), sometimes referred to colloquially as a gator or common alligator, is a large crocodilian reptile native to the Southeastern United States. "There is no question that the coastal region, especially the Pascagoula River, is home to some of the largest alligators in Mississippi," Flynt said. "I said man, this beats everything I've ever seen," Wayne said. "Laurel is personal to me," says Holifield, who was born here and has lived close by nearly all her life. Another place where you can see alligators is at the Jackson Zoo, located in Jackson. Everyone here gives credit to everyone else. During its first decade or so, Laurel existed as little more than a glorified lumber camp surrounding Kamper and Lewin's primitive sawmill. You may also consult Extension Publication 3529, Snakes Alive! Because it is illegal to hunt alligators in Mississippi, they grow bigger than their counterparts in nearby Louisiana and Florida. The real catalyst here happened a little over eight years ago, when Judi Holifield became the director of Laurel Main Street. The best place to see alligators in Mississippi is at Moss Point, a small city located on the southeastern coast of Mississippi. In the years since, shes had the privilege of having her articles appear in several publications, such as Parents & Kids Magazine and Girl Meets Strong. Female alligators are protective, caring mothers. He had a bird's-eye view. Did you know that 84 species of reptiles, 426 species of birds, and over 120 species of fish make Mississippi their forever home? Then, in the last decade or so, a grassroots movement began. [4] Yellow pine forests in the region fueled the industry. The alligator was once an endangered species in the US, but it has now made a comeback. I wasn't a businessperson; I'm just a mom. "Not in the recorded history of Mississippi history, anyway.". "It can be just a fever.". "The alligator itself is an apex predator. Subscriber exclusive:'A ferocious predator': Mississippi scientists uncover skeleton of ancient sea dragon, How rare is it to encounter a shark? 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Between the perfectly fried seafood and the variety of local specialties and creations, such as the slug burger, dieting is basically impossible here. There may be alligators in the Mississippi River in Louisiana, but they're only found in the marshy swamps around the river. In person it is even more of a stunner. The median age was 35 years. That breaks down to 19 percent of the state's preferred habitat for alligators in those three counties. Asides from writing, I enjoy surfing the internet and listening to music. "It's obvious that part of the country has traditionally been home to alligators since any records we have on file. We had a dream to move the bakery downtown and redo an old building, so we started looking around. As long as people and alligators have shared Mississippi, there have been people who hunted the creatures. If a person is bitten by a venomous snake, the Mississippi State Department of Health suggests keeping the affected area at or slightly below the level of the heart and getting the victim to a hospital as quickly as possible. After being gone from Laurel for 34 years, I decided to return in 2015. I think everybody was just so excited about downtown.". . Fourteen northern Mississippi counties have produced no alligator records, but nuisance alligator complaints have come from as far north as Coahoma, Lafayette, and Itawamba Counties. Yes, there are alligators all over Mississippi but the highest populations of alligators are found in the southeast region of the state. Mississippi Highway 15 passes through the south and west sides of the city, leading northwest 24 miles (39km) to Bay Springs and southeast 28 miles (45km) to Richton. The amount of alligator habitat in Mississippi is only a fraction of that in Florida.". The Pascagoula River is a wonder among many locals and tourists alike. Twenty-five percent of the alligator population in Mississippi is found Jackson County and the Pascagoula River drainage system. What Happens To The Gorgeous Furnishings Featured On HGTV 'Home Town'? "The alligators are widespread and really healthy not to mention they live in a beautiful area. Last edited on 25 February 2023, at 03:44, "U.S. By the end of World War I, Laurel's mills were producing and shipping more yellow pine lumber than those of any other location in the entire world. Alligators can't digest their prey after air and water temperatures fall below about 70 degrees. I watched the town die and saw the people try to save it." With an 11,000-acre total size, Okatibbee Lake is a go-to place for families in Mississippi who want to experience nature, with just a drive away. "I still get a kick out of going out and getting them," Wayne said. The alligators here can often be found in small lagoons, ponds and swamps. The average household size was 2.61, and the average family size was 3.21. "Hurricanes and tropical storms do not have any significant impact on alligators," Flynt said. Instead, the state adopted a mandatory online harvest-data collection program in which hunters register the kill and enter the animal's length, sex, location of kill and hours hunted. That animal would likely come from the Pascagoula River basin that's filled with swamp grass, trees, baitfish and other animals. 37.5% of those under the age of 18 and 19.3% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line. Here in Mississippi, coming across animals on the road is almost as common as coming across other motorists. Combined with alligators in Jackson County, the two make up almost 30% of Mississippis alligator population. The city of Laurel was incorporated in 1882, with timber as the impetus. That's all good. Mayor Johnny Magee with his longtime barber, Richard Brown, owner of Hair World. It's been an amazing journey. The location of that shotgun house I grew up in was 401 South Cooks Avenue. According to the Grenada Star newspaper, it occurred in 2013. Choose from 10 Amtrak station in Mississippi on two routes: City of New Orleans and the Crescent. Kamper and Lewin's mill was located in an area that would later become Laurel's First Avenue. We used to have trucks that went out and sold door-to-door till about 1995. Interstate 59 and U.S. Route 11 pass through Laurel, both highways leading southwest 30 miles (48km) to Hattiesburg and northeast 57 miles (92km) to Meridian. They also have a denser (human) population near water. Because alligators are. I explained my cataracts theory, and this woman behind the counter looked at me and said, 'I'll take you.' Find what to do today, this weekend, or in March. Nearly everyone you talk to in Laurel points to Judi Holifield as a powerful agent of change in the community. The Jackson Zoo does have alligators in one of their exhibits. At least they provide the perfect opportunity for a party. Yes, there are alligators all over Mississippi but the highest populations of alligators are found in the southeast region of the state. "On a scale of one to 10, maybe a two," Flynt said. This area covers over 400-acres and is a preserved habitat where youll find beaches, wildlife sanctuaries, piers and more. Did you know you can also see alligators in Louisiana? Laurel is home to the Lauren Rogers Museum of Art, Mississippi's oldest art museum, established by the family of Lauren Eastman Rogers. [11] The area is also prone to tornadoes. ", Have coffee and sticky buns at Sweet Somethings Bakery. Estimates on the population vary, but biologists agree that Mississippi's black bear numbers are growing. 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