Are There Alligators in the Tennessee River?

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Tennessee hasn’t made the list of states where alligators are usually known to live.

However, a 2021 report shows that this large reptile may have migrated into the state. 

So… Are There Alligators in The Tennessee River? 

In 2019, an alligator showed up in the Tennessee River.

This sighting occurred in North Alabama, just across the border.

By 2021, a report issued by Fox 17 WZTV Nashville suggests that alligators may be moving into Tennessee. 

Within a year earlier, a 7-foot-long alligator showed up in the Wolf River.

It apparently was not the only one seen in the state and/or in this area. 

They could migrate to TN from Alabama.

However, they may have to go into hibernation mode, which they are capable of. If they do, this helps them survive harsh winters, and it can even save them in a freezing lake as long as that body of water is present in liquid form. 

Now, you may have heard about the placement of alligators in the Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge.

That’s about two hours away from the Tennessee River in Alabama. 

It’s not impossible for alligators to travel this distance in less than a year.

In fact, it may only take them three to six weeks to make their way from the Alabama refuge.

Alligator Species in The Tennessee River

The only U.S. alligator species that survive in the country is the American Alligator.

A similar creature called the American Crocodile also shows up in the U.S.

They usually both reside in South Florida, Louisiana, and other locations nearer the equator than in TN, but they occasionally have migrated to TN. 

Is it Safe to Swim in the Tennessee River? 

By 2022, alligator sightings are still the least of your worries if swimming in the Tennessee River.

You may instead want to concern yourself about water quality.

Some of the safest places to swim in this body of water include the spots near access points IM 70.3, River Mile 464.5 (Coolidge Park), and the North Shore under the Veterans Bridge and 468.0 Rivermont Park. 

It’s hard to say how long this information may be true.

You have to check out the most current beach and water reports in the locations you plan to swim. 

If planning to swim in the TN River, you also should watch out for commercial ships.

They come down this route often.

Be mindful of recreational watercraft, including motorboats and jet skis too. 

Interesting Alligator Facts About the Tennessee River 

I didn’t know this until now.

Apparently, alligators’ eyes glow in the dark.

That means what I’ve been witnessing all these years could be from creatures, no city lights. 

That’s not necessarily true, but I can only dream of such as wonder.

It depends on the location.

I haven’t spent much time in TN though. If I ever do, I may not ever view it the same after learning about the glow-in-the-dark eyes.

I might think the bright spots on the water are from nearby streetlights. 

I might be partially right about the light source not coming from the gator itself.

However, I didn’t know that alligator eyes have a special function that causes their eyes to glow when hit by the light around them.

Apparently, it is their way of making the most of the illumination they have to work with in the wild. 

Other Alligator Facts

Although alligators prefer warm climates, they can survive in freezing temperatures if they need to.

One thing I learned about their eating habits is that meat is not the only thing they may prefer.

Rumor has it that some of them might also eat fruit. 

I have a hard time believing that gators are anything but carnivorous from what I learned.

They usually do prefer just about any animal they can find as food.

For instance, they’ll eat turtles, birds, lizards, bugs, fish, frogs, and mammals near the shore. 

Perhaps some alligators have decided that eating plants is better than starving to death.

By 2013, it’s apparent that some gators may have the ability to process the sugar from plant-based foods.

It could be a recent mutation among them or just a fact not known until this time. 

Moving on, I say that alligators seem to have so many stories behind them of how they survive.

I felt amazed when I first learned that they can hold their breath for at least several minutes.

Some of them even stay underwater without breathing for up to a half hour, or even several hours.

The record, I think, was 24 hours according to a couple of sources. 

Alligators also have a propensity for going long periods without food.

I have a hard time believing it, but I have seen at least a couple of sources confirming that they can go without eating for two to three years.

Their grocery bill is a lot cheaper than a human’s, who can only go a maximum of about 40 days without sustenance. 

Getting back to the alligators surviving in freezing temperatures: That’s because they can hibernate as a bear does.

Otherwise, they probably would do their best to retreat south as soon as possible, as birds do. 

Alligators Vs. Crocodiles 

A confession: I used to use the terms “alligator” and “crocodile” interchangeably.

I thought they were the same animal.

They’re not though.

They both exist together in Florida.

You will rarely see either creature in TN, at least not as of 2022. 

The news may want to scare you or excite you, but the climate would still have to change drastically enough for either creature to stay in TN for long.

Anyway, alligators prefer freshwater over saltwater, and crocodiles prefer saltwater over freshwater. 

Knowing the type of water they would thrive in, you can expect the rarer of the two showing up in the TN River to be the croc.

The gator would make more sense here if the weather permits it. 

If you want to identify creatures you spot, I think it’s hard to tell if you’re not allowed to go near them.

However, you can tell the difference by their skin color.

The alligators are usually darker in color than the crocodiles, being a dark gray rather than an olive green. 

Alligators also have wider, rounder snouts than a crocodile.

What’s more confusing is that the caiman animal looks like an alligator because of its rounded head.

However, it has a tannish color that may sometimes resemble a croc, which sometimes has this hue in it. 

As far as weight and size, the crocodile usually grows longer and weighs more than an alligator.

The croc may put on between an average of 1,000 to a maximum of 2,200 pounds, but a gator may only weigh 500-800 pounds on average and only 1,000 pounds maximum as an adult male. 

I learned yet another way to tell a crocodile apart from an alligator.

The croc has both the bottom and top jaw lining up with one another, but the gator has an overbite.

This causes more of the croc’s bottom teeth to show than on a gator. 

3 Safety Tips for Swimming in Alligator-Infested Waters

Don’t do it.

That should be the number one rule.

However, I don’t think you have to fear too much about the presence of gators in Tennessee or its river.

Still, take caution just in case, following these three primary pieces of crucial advice. 

1. Don’t feed them. 

That’s a huge mistake.

Don’t try to buy their affection with food.

It may satisfy them for a while.

However, if you’re in the area for a long, you could bring danger to yourselves and your loved ones.

You especially should never give them fish scraps or carelessly get rid of the remains of your meals in areas where gators reside. 

2. Don’t provoke them. 

The water is not the only place where alligators are seen.

They sometimes end up on land and even walk city streets.

Whether near the shore or not, don’t tease them.

This will provoke them and cause them to react defensively toward you. 

3. Don’t swim by yourself. 

It may seem obvious, but you’d be surprised how many people still swim solo in areas they’re not familiar with.

Even if you do know the surroundings well, don’t take them for granted.

Try to have one other person with you if possible. 

Summary

The Tennessee River isn’t one of the top 10 places for the most alligator sightings.

However, some large reptiles have reportedly made their way to this state from Alabama.

Whether this trend will continue, no one knows.

It’s possible with the changing climates caused by global warming.