It takes a tag team of researchers to tag an alligator…
Once upon the shore, one of the team sneaks up behind the gators and quickly lands upon its neck and presses the mouth shut. Almost immediately, the other team members take a pre-determined seat along the alligator’s length. Right away, the mouth is safely taped shut and the alligator’s legs are lifted off the ground to prevent it from rolling. Thankfully, most of the gators are fairly tired from fighting in the water that too much resistance isn’t encountered.
Once safely restrained, team members measure each alligator’s length and girth in several different areas. A plastic cattle tag is attached to the tail and a labelling code is cut into the scales along the tail. On some occasions, blood is drawn for genetic studies and GPS trackers are attached to the alligators’ backs. Once all the data is carefully recorded, the gators are safely released back into the water.
Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia. Suwannee River Sill. April 14, 2023.
– Mostly sunny, with a high 83.
– Sunrise 7:04 AM; Sunset 7:58 PM
– Daylight hours: 12 hours 53 minute (+1m 48s)
Okefenokee Photography Project by William Wise 