Alligators may be found in North Carolina, which is the farthest north that they can be found in the wild. Had ordered kayaks and thought we would be kayaking through the area but the kayaks were delayed, spent a few different days hiking through the area instead and had an enjoyable time. Never seen a black bear in the wild, so Im thinking we need to make a weekend trip to NC. Fish and Wildlife Service for the conservation and, where appropriate, restoration of fish, wildlife and plant resources and their habitats for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans. When you think about alligators, the states of Florida and Louisiana may come to mind. In fact, while South Carolina has an alligator population thats north of 100,000, its estimated there are only about 1,000 alligators in North Carolina. Another large alligator found in North Carolina was a 12-foot long alligator found in Jacksonville, NC in July 2013. Half a century ago, the bald eagle was in danger of extinction. A man was killed on Friday after being dragged into a retention pond by an alligator near Myrtle Beach, S.C., the first such deadly attack in the state since 2020, the authorities said . On October 5, 2019, day 5 of their hunt, they located a large gator that they thought was at least 12 feet. Is the self guided drive available year round. 1st Trip to Charleston -- Best Plantation? City officials in Havelock, located. The alligators are wild and powerful. Participants will return in time for the Red Wolf Howling (another Refuge guided tour). We went near dusk, hoping to see a bear, even though winter isnt a good time for that. Throughout the 18th century, due to hunting, persecution, and loss of habitat, the eastern cougar was all but eradicated in North Carolina. Their presence in North Carolina is often the result of strong easterly winds. Naturally, alligators fear humans. The most common species of shark found are blacknose sharks, sand tiger and sandbar sharks, scalloped hammerheads, and the tiger sharkwhich is the largest and most potentially dangerous, making it among the most feared of all predators in North Carolina. Followed a river otter along a drainage canal off the Alligator River and the Charles Kuralt Trail. But oh well, theres always next year, right? "Many of these alligators are just passing through on their way to somewhere else and will likely leave within a few hours or a couple of weeks if left alone," she said. Using conservation best practices, the Refuge System manages Service lands and waters to help ensure the survival of native wildlife species. As to Birdwatching, I would imagine that like almost everywhere in North America, spring is the best time. The largest alligator ever found in North Carolina was a 635-pound alligator that was hit by a car in Manns Harbor in May 2014. While bites are not typically fatal, they are extremely painful and need immediate medical attention. Alligator.However, the Outer Banks is still home to the American Alligator.Alligators inhabit areas north of the refuge and in some of our waterways. It has a large, long head with visible upper teeth As their name suggests, red wolves are known for the characteristic reddish color of their fur most apparent behind the ears and along the neck and legs, but are mostly brown and buff colored with some black along their backs. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Of course, shark attacks are nothing new to us, being made especially popular through television and film. I'm not sure about November as winter is approaching the bears may be out for their last feedings. There is a little-known place on the coast of North Carolina that is one of the best black bear viewing areas in the world. But oh well, there's always next year, right? I'm a Wildlife Conservation Author and Journalist, raising awareness about conservation by teaching others about the amazing animals we share the planet with. Luckily they snagged it and then used a heavier bow line to snag it again. 95% of travelers recommend this experience. Advanced reservations are required to visit the Aquarium. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Though they have not returned to Virginia just yet, American Alligators can be found from Florida to North Carolina, just shy of the VA border. All three are not naturally aggressive, but their potent venom plus elusive habitat are good reason to 'look' before stepping. Ben P is so right about Caw Caw Interpretive center. Do you need to book in advance to visit Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge? Off of I-26 between (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Spotting an alligator as it goes about its daily "business" of sunning, napping, and cruising is always exciting; but, KEEP YOUR DISTANCE! When it is sunny you can safely see them sunnying themselves. Authorities remind people to never feed alligators because then they can get used to humans and lose their natural fear. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. Commonly mistaken with other water-dwelling snakes, if you see one slithering near you in the waterswim away, and swim FAST! You can spend hours on end driving the gravel roads here. . Residents on South Carolina's Hilton Head Island are used to living with alligators. I want to go first week of November. The FWC places the highest priority on public safety and administers a Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program (SNAP). This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. In captivity, alligators often live longer, up to 70 years or more. An alligator has muscled its way into the mix on one North Carolina beach, and local police are supporting the reptile's right to have a little summer fun. October 2018 in Waukegan, Illinois: A kayaker enjoying Lake Michigan, discovered a real 4-ft. gator with its mouth taped shut when they paddled over to investigate what they thought was a gator-shaped pool float. You can detour a few miles and visit The Grove Plantation on the Edisto River below Adams Run. Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge is located on the Albemarle Peninsula in eastern North Carolina. In 2018, the number of permits only amounted to 20. Her love for travel has taken her to many parts of the world. They set aside a full week at Blacks Camp so they would have time to scout the area and locate the largest gators. Ever encountered any dangerous wildlife in North Carolina? We checked there were none creeping up behind us and started taking photos and video. The northernmost gators in North Carolina live in Merchants Millpond State Park, in Gates County ( approximately 7 miles south of the Virginia state border). We were led down to Sawyer Lake road and up Buffalo City road until we got to Twiford road. If an alligator becomes trapped in a swimming pool, or wanders into a public road and refuses to move, officials ask to call the N.C. Wildlife Helpline at 866-318-2401 Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Only employees with the Wildlife Commission or licensed agent can remove the alligator legally. Beautiful place. To an alligator, meat is meat, meaning, your leg could be considered dinner or dessert. How Many Alligators in N.C? Members who are knowledgeable about this destination and volunteer their time to answer travelers' questions. How can you tell the difference between an alligator and a crocodile? Yes, there is an alligator hunting season in South Carolina. Is early November a good or bad time to see bears? Have some feedback for us? Most of North Carolina's alligators are found in the southeastern corner of the state. Awesome footage. Think about the length of your living room couch, probably 7-8 feet long. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. We went in April and just kept driving the Roads and eventually saw 6 black bears, 2 coyotes, and 2 ottersbut all our sightings were at dawn or dusk. Alligators can get up to 14 feet long and weigh 1,000 pounds in South Carolina, according to state officials. The woman was out walking with her dog by the Brooks Gruber Bridge when she says the alligator snatched her poor dog. It took nearly a week to remove the reptile from the park, which was partially shut down during the search for the animal. Believe it or not, there are populations of alligators as far north as North Carolina, inhabiting the southeastern corner along the coast and the Outer Banks. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. Chris Skibo and Brandon Dockery took their time during their hunt. The large alligator was swimming in the ocean at. Crocodiles generally are 10 to 20 feet long and weigh 300 to 2,000 pounds. This is a road that is normally closed to the public. We knew the bears were feeding in the soya beans and crossed each morning from the woods to fields and then opposite in the evenings. North Carolina alligators are rarely a threat. Swarms of man-o-wars are clearly whats to be most feared of these creatures and also, quite possibly, how they got their rep as one of the scariest not jellyfish in the sea and some of the most dangerous animals in North Carolina. Due to its size and proximity to humans they did not want to relocate. Suddenly, a fully grown bear appeared in the middle of the road and we were told to get back into our cars for safety reasons. On June 5, 2022 a woman looking for a place to spend the day at a beach in Fort Fisher came across a 5-foot alligator sunning itself in the sand. The Jacksonville Police Department was called in to find the alligator and put it down. If you see one, there's likely to be others or even future black widow babies. We drove a short distance and soon noticed a few dark lumps up ahead. Like a few hours, we drove about the area of Bear Road to see them. Tour routes of great scenic drives on National Wildlife Refuges. If so, where and what type of animal was it? Any suggestions for our trip would be appreciated. Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge (Manns Harbor) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go. Project 543 tells the story of unique spots across North Carolina we hope will become some of your favorite places. Black bears are a tad bit friendlier than say, a brown bear, but they still should not be 'messed' with. Where can you see alligators in SC? This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. For wildlife photographers, there are great photographic opportunities if you have patience and good equipment. Yet, it still doesn't disperse the 'big cat mystery' that has been witnessed, and photographed throughout the state. American alligators can be found in the coastal wetlands of the U.S. Southeast, as far north as North Carolina and as far west as eastern Texas. For avid hunters that are looking for the biggest alligators, hunters from North Carolina can apply for a non-resident tag to hunt in South Carolina (there is an extra $200 fee for the non-resident tag, but many hunters feel its worth it.).