The American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) in Oklahoma with Two New Early Records

The American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) presently occurs in small numbers in remote areas of rivers, streams, and small lakes and ponds in southeastern Oklahoma. The question of an historic native population has been a subject of speculation, due partly to the lack of any known records prior to 1909, and the release of “pet ” alligators into wetlands in the state. This paper includes two new reports of alligators in Oklahoma dated from the late 1800s, which indicate that a historic population of alligators occurred in Oklahoma. The 2005 discovery of a successful alligator nest in extreme southeastern Oklahoma indicates that climatic conditions are suitable for a viable population of al