Do alligators live in salt water?

Question

i live at the SC coast on the Kiawah River. Its salt water, not brackish.

there has been an alligator living in this water and i watch him almost everyday and wonder why he hasn't moved to a pond or lagoon. i know i've seen alligators come out of the ocean, but they are usually traveling through, but this, now 4 footer is getting just big enough that i'm wondering if maybe its a croc and not a gator. can someone give me some help with this one. thanks

Answer 1

You are outside the range of the American crocodile. While alligators live in fresh water, they can swim through salt water. Otherwise, they would not have colonized offshore islands. It's like you living at home but going to school on the bus. You don't live on the bus (although it might seem like it when the traffic is bad.)

Answer 2

No, they live in freshwater and brackish areas.

Answer 3

I used to live in Florida, it was not common to see one in the saltwater but it happens.   Yes they primarily inhabit fresh and brackish areas, but they are mobile creatures especially during the summer mating season.  He may be just on the move.

More than likely a gator.  American crocodiles usually only inhabit the South Florida Everglades region.  Just look at his snout.  If it is flat and round then it's a gator,  if it is long and slender then it's a croc.  

Answer 4

I seriously doubt it is a croc. The only place in n. america that crocs live is south florida. it's not impossible that a croc lost it's way and came that far north. it's also not impossible that it's a gator who lost it's way since, as the previous poster said. gators prefer brackish and fresh water. I think it's a gator. That seems more likely. Look at it's snout. If it is broad, then it is a gator.