The Chirp

A 2015 encounter with a mother alligator and her babies in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge reminded me of the first time I heard that “chirp” in the wild…

January, 1997 – ​A shallow, circular pond reflected the tall Longleaf Pines that lined its perimeter. A solitary, sluggish alligator floated on the waters, too cold to pull herself out to bask. The medium sized gator was a mother gator surrounded by several small babies.

​As we cautiously approached the edge of the water, within grabbing distance of one colorful black and yellow banded baby, we heard “the chirp”. I had only heard this cute little squeak on documentaries. It was something quite exciting to hear for the first time in the wild.

​As the babies continued their alarmed chirping, mom swam closer and elicited a deep, forceful hiss, ending her approach with a feigned lunge that backed us off. Had it been warmer, she may have more aggressively defended her brood and not allowed us such a close approach.

iNaturalist observations:

• https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/30832403
• https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/61556620