Wildlife Diversity Program Quarterly Report for January–March 2026
Alligator Mortalities in North Carolina
by Alicia Wassmer, Alligator Biologist
B etween October 1, 2024 and September 30, 2025, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) received 38 reports of alligator mortality events in 6 coastal counties from agency staff, Jurisdictional Alligator Handlers, and the public. While the cause of death was undetermined in approximately one-third of these cases, the leading cause of alli- gator mortality is motor vehicle strikes and the second-most common cause is illegal harvest. Two alligators sustained lethal injuries and were subsequently euthanized by authorized han- dlers, and three alligators were euthanized due to unnatural behavior towards people, consistent with that of alligators that have been repeatedly fed by humans. These data underscore the need for proactive measures to reduce direct and indirect anthropogenic sources of alligator mortality, while also highlighting a growing need to prevent human-alligator conflicts, particularly in areas of the coast where human populations and development are experiencing rapid increases. With these goals in mind, NCWRC is strongly promoting GatorWise (www.gatorwise.org), a regional outreach initiative developed by the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies’ Alligator Working Group members. The pro- gram launched in May 2025 and aims to connect residents and visitors with consistent, reliable information on how to coexist responsibly with alligators and take action to keep alligators wild and people safe.
Alligator Mortalities by Cause of Death and
18
County in North Carolina (October 2024 - September 2025) unknown motor vehicle strike illegally killed euthanized due to unnatural behavior euthanized due to health issues
16
14
8
12
10
8
6
2
6
2
4
4
1
2
3
2
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
0
ALICIA WASSMER/NCWRC
An adult alligator basks a few feet away from a busy road at Lake Waccamaw, Columbus County.
Double-crested Cormorant
14
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