Meet the Alligators
BKL
Name: BKL
Sex: Male
Species: American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)
Stage of Life: Adult
Length: 2.97m / 9ft’ 10”
Estimated Weight: 118kg / 260lbs
Tail Tag: Red 140
Tail Notches: BKL
Tagged Date: Sat Tag 11/8/2021
Tag Status: Removed 10/27/2022
Tagged Location: Okefenokee Adventures, Folkston, GA
Sponsors: UGA
Description: Notch code BKL is an adult male alligator from the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge who measures 9’10” (3m) long and weighs roughly 260lbs (118kg)! BKL is the 5th animal to be incorporated into the satellite tag study from Okefenokee Adventures. Based on previous observations and communications with staff at Okefenokee Adventures, we believe that this animal may be a dominant male in this area. BKL has an interesting distinguishing feature as one of the teeth on his lower jaw has grown up through the upper jaw and is visible when his mouth is closed. This phenomenon is unusual but has been documented before, even by our field team. It does not affect his ability to survive in any way and he most likely doesn’t even notice it now that it is healed. In order to protect the animals located in the National Wildlife Refuge, we do not name or disclose any locations of the alligators located within the federal boundaries of the wilderness areas.
BKL Overall Map
This Map shows the movements of BKL over the year (November 2021 – November 2022) that he had had a satellite tag, in total BKL traveled 87.6 miles during that time! BKL’s home range is similar in size to many other males we have captured of his size within the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. His territory is close to a few other alligators we have tagged and seems to overlap slightly with alligator BEN.
BMO
Name: BMO
Sex: Male
Species: American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)
Stage of Life: Adult
Length: 3.05m / 10ft’ 0”
Estimated Weight: 118kg / 260lbs
Tail Tag: Orange 42
Tail Notches: BMO
Tagged Date: Sat Tag 04/07/2022
Tag Status: Active
Tagged Location: Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Folkston, GA
Sponsors: UGA
Description: Notch code BMO is an adult male alligator that was captured within the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. He measures 10ft long and we estimate that he weighs approximately 260lbs! BMO was in great health and had no major injuries. He appeared to be an older alligator as the majority of his scutes were worn and smooth. BMO is the 8th alligator to be tagged within the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and the 17th alligator to be tagged as part of this study! In order to protect the animals located in the National Wildlife Refuge, we do not name or disclose any locations of the alligators located within the federal boundaries of the wilderness areas.
BIP
Name: BIP
Sex: Male
Species: American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)
Stage of Life: Adult
Length: 2.46m / 8ft’ 1”
Estimated Weight: 45kg / 100lbs
Tail Tag: Red 126
Tail Notches: BIP
Tagged Date: Sat Tag 08/04/2022
Tag Status: Active
Tagged Location: Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Folkston, GA
Sponsors: John and Kristin Hoog
Description: Notch Code BIP is the smallest male that we have been able to attach a satellite tag to. In order to attach a satellite tag to an animal, the minimum size we target is around 8ft. This is because the tag has to be able to fit between their nuchal scutes (scutes on the back of the neck). While BIP is at a size where he is sexually mature, he is most likely not contributing to the population yet. This is because while he is capable of reproducing, he is not yet large enough to actually compete for territory and mates. At this stage in his life, BIP is most likely searching for a territory he can call his own that does not have a large male in it. BIP is the 9th alligator to be tagged within the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and the 19th alligator to be tagged as part of this study! In order to protect the animals located in the National Wildlife Refuge, we do not name or disclose any locations of the alligators located within the federal boundaries of the wilderness areas.
BIP Overall Map
This map shows the movements of BIP over the 11 months (August 2022- Current) that he has had his satellite tag. We suspected that because BIP is a smaller male that he would either not really have his own territory or have a very small territory. The latter seems to be true as his territory seems to only encompass 5 acres (12ha). During breeding season in 2023 it appears he was forced out of his territory as he made a 3-mile move. He stayed in the new area for a month before returning to his normal territory.
BOP
Name: BOP
Sex: Male
Species: American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)
Stage of Life: Adult
Length: 3.07m / 10ft’ 1″
Estimated Weight: 127kg / 280lbs
Tail Tag: Red 148
Tail Notches: BOP
Tagged Date: Sat Tag 07/22/2022
Tag Status: Active
Tagged Location: Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Folkston, GA
Sponsors: UGA
Description: Notch code BOP is an adult male alligator measuring 10’1″ and is estimated to weigh around 275lbs! BOP is a very healthy alligator as indicated by his body and tail girth measurements. His tail girth was 2.5 feet around and his body girth was 4 feet around! The only notable injury that we could see on BOP was that his left eye was covered in scar tissue, and he could not see out of it. Notch code BOP was a bit odd in terms of the capture location as he was captured in a roadside ditch within the National Wildlife Refuge. BOP is the 8th alligator to be tagged within the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and the 18th alligator to be tagged as part of this study! In order to protect the animals located in the National Wildlife Refuge, we do not name or disclose any locations of the alligators located within the federal boundaries of the wilderness areas.
BOP Overall Map
This map shows the movements of BOP over the 12 months (July 2022 – Current) that he has had a satellite tag. So far it seems that BOP likes to stay on the periphery of the swamp and hangs out along some of the man-made structures such as roads and trails. Based on the aerial photographs it seems that he may travel over land more than most of the other alligators we have captured as many of the bodies of water he inhabits are not connected.
CJM
Name: CJM
Sex: Female
Species: American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)
Stage of Life: Adult
Length: 2.66m / 8ft’ 9”
Estimated Weight: 79kg / 175lbs
Tail Tag: NA
Tail Notches: CJM
Tagged Date: Sat Tag 08/26/2022
Tag Status: Active
Tagged Location: Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Fargo, GA
Sponsors: John and Kristin Hoog
Description: CJM is an adult female that was captured at Stephen C. Foster State Park, the western entrance to the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. She is the first alligator that we have attached a satellite tag to from the western side of the swamp. CJM is 8’9″ long and we estimate that she weighs roughly 175lbs! She is a reproductive female, and she had a nest that hatched in September of 2022! CJM is a very healthy individual, but she does have a few injuries that distinguish her. She has an old boat prop injury on her tail, but it does not affect her mobility. In addition to that, she is also blind in her left eye as a result of accidentally being hooked by a stray fishhook. Despite these injuries, CJM has displayed that she is an excellent mother and will defend her nest from humans and other wildlife. In order to protect the animals located in the National Wildlife Refuge, we do not name or disclose any locations of the alligators located within the federal boundaries of the refuge
CJM Overall Map
This map shows the overall movement of female CJM during the 2 months (May 2023- Current) that she has had her satellite tag. As we suspected, because she nested in 2022 and now has 6 babies with her, she has not moved much and has stayed within the same 2 acres (0.9ha) since she was captured. We are curious to see how long she will take care of her young and if her movement will increase once the young leave her care.
BJN
Name: BJN
Sex: Female
Species: American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)
Stage of Life: Adult
Length: 2.47m / 8ft’ 1”
Estimated Weight: 45kg / 100lbs
Tail Tag: Red 181
Tail Notches: BJN
Tagged Date: Sat Tag 12/08/2022
Tag Status: Active
Tagged Location: Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Folkston, GA
Sponsors: UGA
Description: BJN is an adult female who measured 8’1″ (2.46m) long and weighs an estimated 100 lbs (45 kg)! BJN is the 10th alligator to be fitted with a satellite tag within the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge! Even more exciting, however, is BJN is the 1st female alligator to be fitted with a satellite tag from the Folkston entrance! This may seem strange, but she is the first female we have captured at this entrance that was large enough to hold a satellite tag. While we aren’t entirely sure why females at the Folkston entrance do not seem to grow as large as females at the Okefenokee Swamp Park and Stephen C. Foster State Park. We believe it has to do with the differences in habitat and types of prey available for consumption. Even more exciting than BJN being the first female with a sat tag is that she has 15 yearlings! We were not able to catch these babies this time, but we will catch them in the future to collect genetics from them. Getting genetics from these babies will be especially important because we believe the father to be fellow satellite-tagged alligator male BOP! Both BJN and BOP were caught in a ditch alongside a road within the refuge and have been observed basking together with the babies nearby. BJN seems to be a very important part of the puzzle and we are very excited to have her in the study!
BJN Overall Map
This map shows the overall movements of BJN during the 8 months (December 2022- Current) that she has had her satellite tag. BJN has remained fairly close to her capture location, this is most likely because she has 15 juveniles with her that hatched in fall of 2021. We are curious to see if she will nest again this year.
All photos by University of Georgia Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant, unless otherwise noted.
