A little reason to celebrate
National Alligator Day
Animal ยท May 29
A day for the American alligator, the broad-snouted reptile of Southern swamps, rivers and marshes, and for watching it from a respectful distance.
National Alligator Day falls on Saturday, May 29, 2027. That is 214 days away.
The American alligator is a large reptile that lives in the freshwater swamps, marshes, rivers and lakes of the southeastern United States. It has a broad, rounded snout, armored skin and a long, powerful tail that does most of the work when it swims.
Most of the time an alligator looks like it is doing nothing at all. It floats with only its eyes and nostrils above the water, or lies on a bank soaking up the sun to warm its body. That stillness is the whole strategy. Alligators are patient hunters that eat fish, turtles, birds and other animals that come close enough.
They are also more attentive parents than their reputation suggests. A female builds a nest mound of plants and mud, and she stays nearby to guard it. When the young hatch, they make high chirping calls, and the mother may carry them to the water in her mouth.
People usually mark the day by learning about alligators or seeing them in places built for it, such as zoos, nature centers and wildlife refuges with boardwalks and viewing platforms. In the wild, the best view is a distant one. Alligators should never be fed or approached, because feeding teaches them to link people with food.
Alligators dig shallow pools in wetlands during dry spells, and those gator holes hold water that fish, birds and other animals use too.
Ways to celebrate
- Visit a zoo or nature center that cares for alligators.
- Watch a nature documentary about Southern wetlands.
- Look for alligators from a marked boardwalk or viewing platform at a refuge.
- Learn the difference between an alligator's snout and a crocodile's.
- Draw or sketch an alligator basking on a riverbank.
Dates
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Friday, May 29 |
| 2027 | Saturday, May 29 |
| 2028 | Monday, May 29 |
| 2029 | Tuesday, May 29 |
| 2030 | Wednesday, May 29 |
Also on May 29
Categories: Animal days