Article: Alligator mating season in jeopardy

Piper Stannard
University Wire
04-24-2001
(Independent Florida Alligator) (U-WIRE) GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- A lack of rain is causing more than just brush fires -- alligator mating season could be threatened as well.

"During the next couple of months is when they really start looking for each other," University of Florida biology professor Kent Vliet said.

But mating season this year may not be as successful as in the past because biologists expect the drought to take its toll on the local alligator population, Vliet said.

When there is little water, alligators crowd together, causing social stress. When this happens, many females will not go into their reproductive cycles, he said.

Alligators ...

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