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The North American alligator lives in lakes, ponds, and waterways of the southeastern United States.

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The North American Alligator eats fish, turtles, snakes, birds, and small mammals.

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They create holes to help them keep water in times of drought, this helps supply water for plants and wildlife in the wetlands. Without them, the water supply would be low for all of the plants and animals that need aquatic areas to live.

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Reason For Their Decline: The Early 19th Century 

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Reason For Their Decline: The Early 19th Century 

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The combined pressure of habitat loss and market hunting caused the alligators to be killed very quickly. Almost 200,000 alligators were killed in the state of Florida alone.

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There is an amendment to the Lacey Act and C.I.T.I.E.S. This is the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. By also being on the federal endangered species list, the North American alligator was entirely protected.

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Diaz, Alan. “NC to Consider Whether to Allow Alligator Hunting.” Citizen Times, The Daily News, 29 May 2017, www.citizen-times.com/story/news/local/2017/05/29/carolina-consider-whether-allow-alligator-hunting/102293424/.

Dailymail.com, Stacy Liberatore For. “A Reptile from Another Time: Researchers Say the American Alligator Is 6 MILLION Years Older than Previously Thought.” Daily Mail Online, Associated Newspapers, 20 Sept. 2016, www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3799040/A-reptile-time-Researchers-say-American-alligator-6-MILLION-years-older-previously-thought.html.

“NCWRC, N.C. Alligator Task Force Seeking Public Input on Alligator Management in North Carolina.” Carolina Sportsman, NC Sportsman, 26 Sept. 2016, www.northcarolinasportsman.com/details.php?id=6220.

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Many people are living on the coast, in alligator territory. This causes people to kill alligators when they are in places the people don’t want them to be. The alligators are also eating people’s pets. They are also becoming less afraid of humans, this means that they are willing to be fed by the people. The alligators being fed by an outside source interrupts the ecosystem.

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By placing the animal under strict protective laws and helping to replenish its habitat, the animal is starting to make a comeback.

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People started to live near water. The economy is also pushing for more coastal development. This drove out the alligators and destroyed their habitats.