2 | KIAWAH ISLAND DIGEST
Alligators cross roads more frequently during the May and June mating season, risking more accidental human interaction.
Alligator Safety FAQs
How common are dog/alligator incidents on Kiawah
Island?
Uncommon. Over the last 20 years, Kiawah has averaged
about one incident every three years. Most incidents have
occurred when dogs accidentally, or unknowingly, escaped
from their owners and entered ponds or approached a
pond edge. inherent fear of people. All reports of nuisance alligators
are evaluated by island biologists.
How common are human/alligator incidents on
Kiawah?
Alligators do not view people as prey and incidents are
extremely rare. There have been three minor incidents
on Kiawah Island in the last 40 years. Typically, incidents
like these can be easily avoided if safety rules are followed. If an alligator approaches me while fishing or crabbing,
what should I do?
Use caution and remove your lines from the water. If an
alligator is hooked on your line, cut the line immediately.
Report the incident to the Town of Kiawah Island (843-
768-9166) during normal business hours or to KICA
Security (843-768-5566) at all other times.
How many alligators live on Kiawah Island?
Approximately 600 alligators live on Kiawah. Kiawah’s
alligator population is allowed to fluctuate naturally and
has remained stable over the last 10 years. It is safe to
assume that there is at least one alligator, usually more, in
every body of water on the island.
If the alligator meets the nuisance alligator criteria,
it is captured and killed using “nuisance” tags issued
by SCDNR. There is no other harvest or removal of
alligators on Kiawah Island.
Why are alligators important to Kiawah Island?
Alligators have been on earth for almost 100 million years
and are a vital part of the delicate Kiawah Island ecosystem.
Young alligators provide food for many species of birds
and mammals, larger alligators help control populations
of prey species, and abandoned “gator holes” or wallows
provide critical freshwater habitat for countless species of
What is a nuisance alligator?
A nuisance alligator is an individual alligator that has animals. Their presence is an indicator of the health of the
become a significant public safety risk. This typically island’s lakes and ponds and the island itself.
occurs when an alligator has been fed and has lost its
REPORT ALLIGATOR INTERACTIONS TO THE TOWN OF KIAWAH ISLAND
AT 843-768-9166 OR TO KICA AT 843-768-5566.