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It’s kind of like Jurassic Park, just not quite as exciting. A huge storm comes, and floodwaters set 30 Alligators free from their captivity. And now they are unaccounted for. And, no doubt, pretty hungry. 

People are being told to “keep an eye on their pets.”

Flood lets out alligators in Jackson Co

Keep an eye out for your pets

Updated: Wednesday, 01 Apr 2009, 6:53 PM CDT
Published : Wednesday, 01 Apr 2009, 2:56 PM CDT

• Cherish Lombard
• Taren Reed
• Photojournalist: Hal Scheurich

JACKSON COUNTY, Miss. – Recent rain caused a big problem in Jackson County: thirty alligators that were fenced in at the Gulf Coast Gator Ranch are now free.

“The water got high enough where it covered the fence so they went over the top of it”, said ranch owner Allan Adams. 

Adams said the rain sent about five feet of water into the Ranch, and the alligators floated over the chain-link fence. The alligators could be anywhere from the ranch, to the Gulf of Mexico.

“They got a couple of bayou’s around here called Bayou Heron and Bayou Cumbest, and typically that’s the direction they’re going to go when the waters recede”, said Adams. 

If you’re in that area, you may want to keep an eye on your pets. Alligators can eat pretty much anything. “Alligators are what we call opportunists. In other words they don’t let an opportunity go by to get a meal”, said Adams. 

He said generally the alligators won’t attack you unless they feel cornered and vulnerable. If you see them, don’t get too close, and don’t try to feed them.

Adams said just leave them alone and he’ll get them as soon as the water’s recede, and put them back in the fenced in areas.

Allan knows his alligators because they all are marked with a “u-shaped” notch in their tails when they are babies. Adams has high hopes that he’ll find all of his alligators, and he’ll continue touring the swamp until he does.

If you find an alligator in the Jackson County area, you can call him at 1-866-954-2867