The American Alligator: Abused, Protected, Restored

The American Alligator traces the history and success of the campaign to protect these crocodilians from extinction in the United States. From initial interactions with prehistoric Indigenous peoples to the recorded history of early European immigrants to North America, this book details the endangerment of alligators brought about by excessive hunting for hides and wetlands habitat destruction.

As the population declined significantly in the early 1800s and into the 1900s, concern grew across the South that the American alligator might be threatened with extinction. Conservation groups list the species as endangered and pushed for legal protection, which in turn stimulated research and management and led to increased, stable populations. Today, the species is recognized as an economically valuable resource; captive farming and ranch production yield annual harvests valued at millions of dollars. Thanks to these efforts, the American alligator, abused for more than a century, has been restored.

Author: Robert W. Hastings
Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: University of Louisiana
Published: 07/08/2025
Pages: 106
Weight: 0.3lbs
Size: 8.90h x 5.90w x 0.40d
ISBN: 9781959569237
2025 Edition