Laurel is a city in and the second county seat of Jones County, Mississippi, United States. It is estimated that there are just over 30,000 alligators in Mississippi, with most centralized in the southern portion of the state. Check out the alligators of Hattiesburg Zoo in the video below: There have also been some reports of alligators in Laurel, Mississippi. To get this huge gator out of the water, Wayne used his gator fishing line, bait, truck and son Bo Parker to help out. "I mean, we were just kids, but Judi knew how to get grants and really make things happen.". As Erin explains, every single person is important to the renaissance of this town: "You need the accountants and the lawyers to make sure grants are done properly, and you need the preachers and the teachers who can gather volunteers from the churches and schools." Alligators can be found in every county of the state, but southeast Mississippi reigns king. Laurel is the principal city of a micropolitan statistical area named for it. Snakes probably generate more interest and fear than just about anything out there especially the venomous varieties. Stock up on artisanal beef jerky and homemade fudge at The Knight Butcher. My grandmother owned a restaurant, and because I was the oldest grandchild and a girl, she always had me around. This means a nest can produce all females or all males from one clutch, which is on average about 35-40 eggs. Families and tourists will have a lot to do when visiting this lake, with one full-service campground, four parks, and three designated swimming areas. If you encounter a venomous snake or one you can't positively identify, don't take chances, says noted herpetologist Terry Vandeventer, who is well-known for his advice. An alligator can close its mouth withpressure of up to 3,000 pounds per square inch, but the mouth of an adult alligator can be held shut with just one hand. A longtime resident, she served as executive director of Laurel Main Street from 2011 to 2020. The Pascagoula River is one place capable of it.". Head over to the gator pond, as it is known by locals, to see the alligators! "Crocodilians, which includes alligators, have a uniquely designed heart that allows them to store oxygen without beating," Flynt said. The hunts do not include Okatibbee Lake. My wife, Nece, and I would visit from California each summer. Flynt, who has caught and handled alligators for years in his research, said only larger alligators require two hands to hold their jaws closed and that's because the mouths can be too large to grip with a single hand. With their business partners, Erin and Ben have renovated 50 homes in and near Laurel. "The current state record length of 16 feet, 6 1/2 inches was taken down there. As of the 2010 census, Laurel had a population of 18,540. In the center of town, book a spacious room with soaring ceilings above Sweet Somethings Bakery. In 2017, a fishing couple caught a dead 10-foot alligator in the Neuse River near New Bern, according to N&O archives. In the process, they can lose teeth, along with when they fight. Alligators become dormant in fall/winter and dont feed during this time. If youre looking for somewhere to see alligators in Mississippi then youre in the right place. "We all did what we could," Erin says. It gives the public the chance to see and study wildlife from the region and from all around the world. I always said I'd never work here, but then the girl I was going to marry was here (she came in to help my mother in 1983), my family was here, and downtown Laurel was starting to die. The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. "Take two steps back and walk away," Vandeventer preaches. According to the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks, there are about 55 alligators currently making Okatibbee Lake their home. "My mother was working at Lott Furniture Co. for 12 years before I was born. "Not in the recorded history of Mississippi history, anyway.". However, not anyone can trap gators because it is illegal, and a person could get fined up to $10,000. Dana Sanders, Jr. of Hurley was bitten last year by a large timber rattlesnake in Claiborne County. For the six of us, all in our twenties, it was like a game: How can we make downtown Laurel feel alive again? We knew exactly what we were called here to do. Youll see a variety of other animals at the Gulf Islands National Seashore in Ocean Springs such as lizards, snakes, turtles, raccoons, birds and much more. Along with it, concern about safety has also grown among some outdoors enthusiasts. "We discourage feeding them by throwing food in the water, and we discourage the use of fish feeders in the area with alligators, They will utilize the food resource and learn to associate with human activity. A lot of outsiders are unaware of this fact, which is quite alright because the last thing we need is a ton of people swarming to our state. After all, the American alligator is also called the Mississippi alligator, and there it is, the Mississipi, right in St. Louis! The Pascagoula River is a wonder among many locals and tourists alike. 2022 Alligator Hunting Season opens Friday in Mississippi The officer and a game warden with the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks (MDWFP) set the animal free outside. The Pascagoula River has a very large alligator population with estimates ranging from 7,500 to 12,500 this represents 25% of Mississippis total alligator population. "It has a huge amount of food resources between fresh and salt water. . Her writing has appeared in many magazines, including Southern Living, Domino, Breathe, McSweeney's, and The Lascaux Review. 28.9% of the population and 21.4% of families were below the poverty line. Female alligators are protective, caring mothers. It seems very plausible to imagine an alligator floating elegantly, its silhouette adding a threatening component to the famous view of the Gateway Arch. The Wausau-Southern mill from Wausau, Wisconsin, followed in 1911, and the Marathon mill from Memphis, Tennessee, in 1914. "Harrison County ranks No. I'll take you.' Problems arise when bears are lured out of their element by food and venture closer to humans than they normally would. Alligators can be found in every county of the state, but southeast Mississippi reigns king. "The alligators are widespread and really healthy not to mention they live in a beautiful area. The location of that shotgun house I grew up in was 401 South Cooks Avenue. A bite from a venomous snake can be painful at best and even cause death. After a long career as a teacher, choral director, member of the Mississippi Arts Commission, and more, she became a major catalyst in the transformation of the town. Everyone here gives credit to everyone else. On December 28, 1954, an F3 tornado tore directly through the city, injuring 25 people.[12]. We thought we'd be in our 60s before that really happened, but in 2009 it became pretty clear that it was time for us to make a change and this was the place. [22][23], The Mississippi Department of Mental Health South Mississippi State Hospital Crisis Intervention Center is in Laurel. "It's a part of their unique design," Flynt said. Because of those factors, Flynt said the danger they pose is low. I've always had this idea that true community comes down to one thing: Is there somebody who can take you to get your cataracts removed when the time comes? Small portions are in the Jones County School District.[25]. Wayne, an alligator trapper,said he had to put the alligator down because it was too big to relocate. [31] The show portrays renovations of local homes in and near Laurel. With over 408,000 acres of possible alligator habitat, an estimated 32,000-38,000 alligators have been living here. "They're shutting down their respiratory system. During its first decade or so, Laurel existed as little more than a glorified lumber camp surrounding Kamper and Lewin's primitive sawmill. Laid end to end, that amount of lumber would stretch 189 miles. Kamper and Lewin's mill was located in an area that would later become Laurel's First Avenue. The American alligator ( Alligator mississippiensis ), sometimes referred to colloquially as a gator or common alligator, is a large crocodilian reptile native to the Southeastern United States. sankax/Flickr. "You're talking hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of bites a year," Jones said. Laurel is packed tight with people like thatcommunity members who care and who use their unique skills to help make a difference. People are investing in their townnot to garner attention or elevate property values but simply to make Laurel better because this is where they want to stay and work and enjoy life. The address of City Hall is also 401. Another issue he noted is people trying to get close to bears to take photographs. The amount of alligator habitat in Mississippi is only a fraction of that in Florida.". The name of the hunter was not released. Youre able to go to the ranch and see the alligators in their native habitat. Originally built as one of the four flood control reservoirs in Mississippi, Grenada Lake is also now open to the public for recreational activities such as water skiing, wakeboarding, and watercraft sports. Every time we would come home to see our family, we'd drive around and look at houses and land. There were 6,925 households, out of which 29.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.2% were married couples living together, 23.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.4% were non-families. Twenty-five percent of the alligator population in Mississippi is found Jackson County and the Pascagoula River drainage system. "In fact, we have never had a reported alligator attack on humans in Mississippi. Address: Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge, 13723 Bluff Lake Road, Brooksville, Mississippi 39739, Opening hours: Monday to Sunday, sunrise to sunset. You may also consult Extension Publication 3529, Snakes Alive! ", The Napiers and their friends were not the only ones making headway here. With so many of these predators roaming around, one might anticipate fatal alligator attacks are a regular occurrence. 'You could tell it was bone cracking. Find what to do today, this weekend, or in March. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. The Agape Church founders foster community beyond their walls. That is where I became interested in cooking. Fourteen northern Mississippi counties have produced no alligator records, but nuisance alligator complaints have come from as far north as Coahoma, Lafayette, and Itawamba Counties. It is located northeast of Ellisville, the first county seat, which contains the first county courthouse. Recent rainy weather may be the reason an alligator turned up at a Popeyes restaurant in Laurel on Monday, August 22. Take a load off while testing out stylish sofas (and enjoying great tunes) at Lott Furniture Co. Stroll through the Lauren Rogers Museum of Art, and catch a glimpse of gorgeous architecture on the walk over, including City Hall and the Arabian Theatre. What Happens To The Gorgeous Furnishings Featured On HGTV 'Home Town'? "I still get a kick out of going out and getting them," Wayne said. Alligators living in states without alligator hunters can reproduce more and attain greater sizes. By the end of World War I, Laurel's mills were producing and shipping more yellow pine lumber than those of any other location in the entire world. Large timber rattlesnake in Claiborne county to $ 10,000 United States weekend or! Magazines, including southern living, Domino, Breathe, McSweeney 's, and I would visit from each! Food and venture closer to humans than they normally would found in county! Street from 2011 to 2020 to humans than they normally would this means a nest produce... Erin says exactly what we were just kids, but southeast Mississippi reigns king School District. 25! Contains the first county courthouse a population of 18,540 city of a micropolitan statistical area for! 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