The heaviest one taken (during the 2012 permit hunting season) down there was 636 pounds. Head over to the gator pond, as it is known by locals, to see the alligators! Combined with alligators in Jackson County, the two make up almost 30% of Mississippis alligator population. For every 100 females, there were 85.8 males. Did you know that 84 species of reptiles, 426 species of birds, and over 120 species of fish make Mississippi their forever home? American alligators have been all over the headlines in Alabama recently from gator hunts in south Alabama, to a rogue 10-footer killed in Oxford. "When my daughter graduated high school, she said she was going to leave. Achim Raschka Public domain picture by U.S. Snakes probably generate more interest and fear than just about anything out there especially the venomous varieties. Address: 107 S 17th Ave, Hattiesburg, MS 39401, Opening Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 4pm. "It's just like a spider web of rivers and bayous that are alligator habitat. Nearly everyone you talk to in Laurel points to Judi Holifield as a powerful agent of change in the community. Amtrak's Crescent train connects Laurel with the cities of New York City; Philadelphia; Baltimore; Washington, D.C.; Charlotte, North Carolina; Atlanta; Birmingham, Alabama; and New Orleans. Trapper Wayne'snuisance animal control made its biggest catch yet,an alligator that weighed over 700 pounds. Every time we would come home to see our family, we'd drive around and look at houses and land. The racial and ethnic composition of the population was 61.3% African-American, 29.8% non-Hispanic white, 7.7% Hispanic or Latino, 0.7% Asian, 0.1% Native American, and 1.0% reporting two or more races.[17]. After all, the American alligator is also called the Mississippi alligator, and there it is, the Mississipi, right in St. Louis! So, the next time you hear someone talking about wanting to move to Mississippi, politely remind them of these 15 reasons they definitely would not like living in the Magnolia State. Five years ago, there were maybe four or five businesses represented in our Laurel Main Street meetings. 62 single family homes for sale in Laurel MS. View pictures of homes, review sales history, and use our detailed filters to find the perfect place. The city's population grew markedly during the early 20th century because rural people were attracted to manufacturing jobs and the economic takeoff of Masonite International. When an alligators tooth breaks off, a new one grows in its place. Flynt explained that the muscles used to bite down on prey are extremely strong, those used to open their mouths aren't. The alligator was once an endangered species in the US, but it has now made a comeback. Each tag holder is allowed to harvest two alligators that are a minimum of 4 feet. As the Hospitality State, well always be friendly towards visitors, but that doesnt mean we want them to start calling Mississippi home. (WHLT) An alligator must really love that chicken from Popeyes! Postal Service request to provide a postal delivery name for their mill and its surrounding lumber camp, Kamper and Lewin submitted the name "Lawrell" as an homage to the area's naturally-growing mountain laurel bushes. 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Louisiana and Florida have the largest alligator populationsthere are more than one million wild alligators in each state. Now there are probably 40. We put some lights in the trees and had these potluck parties and invited our friends from Hattiesburg. A tall white man with a deep Southern . The Waterfront Hiking Trail In Mississippi Will Capture Your Imagination, Treat Yourself To A Homemade Ice Cream Cone At The Velvet Cream In Mississippi, This Secluded Nature Trail In Mississippi Is So Worthy Of An Adventure, This Enchanting And Historic Island In Mississippi Is The Perfect Day Trip Destination, 15 Things You Quickly Learn When You Move To Mississippi, 12 Things Only True Mississippians Can Tell You About Life In Mississippi, 10 Reasons Why People From Mississippi Are Unbelievably Tough, 11 Stereotypes About Mississippi That Need To Be Put To Rest Right Now, 11 Life Lessons Everyone Learns Growing Up In Mississippi.. "I mean, we were just kids, but Judi knew how to get grants and really make things happen.". ", "I was born and raised in Ellisville, about 15 minutes from here. Fishing is also an excellent sport here, as the lake hosts many fish species such as the channel catfish, flathead catfish, black crappie, white crappie, blue catfish, green sunfish, and white bass. ", The Napiers and their friends were not the only ones making headway here. Just the vastness and pristineness make it a great home for alligators to thrive in. Are There Alligators In Mississippi? Following the 1881 construction of the New Orleans and Northeastern Railroad through the area,[3] economic development occurred rapidly. Reuben Lott actually had 11 Mr. Lott stores around the state, but he had no heirs, so he sold his stores to the employees. "Crocodilians, which includes alligators, have a uniquely designed heart that allows them to store oxygen without beating," Flynt said. Jones said when we look at the number of mosquito bites, dying from West Nile virus is not likely. "I get an adrenaline rush off it each time, especially when you look out across the water and see one with his eyes about a foot apart," Parker said. Mayor Johnny Magee with his longtime barber, Richard Brown, owner of Hair World. The Pascagoula River is around 80 miles long and flows through southeastern Mississippi into the Gulf of Mexico. Once a thriving logging community and cultural hub, Laurel gradually fell into disrepair. "The current state record length of 16 feet, 6 1/2 inches was taken down there. The most relevant alligator sighting here happened in 2011 when a visitor at the lake spotted and captured a photo of a small 3-foot alligator at the Mississippi River. Mississippi Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks estimates that there are between 32,000 and 38,000 alligators in Mississippi. The large river and pristine drainage make its bayous an excellent habitat for alligators. Andru1308/Flickr. "You're talking hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of bites a year," Jones said. Males had a median income of $27,077 versus $17,336 for females. And of course it's Erin & Ben Napier's home town. 30.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. He leads a Laurel that's worlds away from the town of his childhood memories. Our grand opening for Sweet Somethings Bakery was in 2016, and it was one of the biggest that Laurel had ever had. explained what items had to be ordered online, and gave hints about spending wisely. The city was named for thickets of mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia) which were native to the original town site.[5]. And I went, 'Wow, I must go there!' It doesn't have claws, teeth or venom, either. alligator, (genus Alligator), either of two crocodilians related to the tropical American caimans (family Alligatoridae). And the beautiful mural on the side of a once-dilapidated building? "The Pascagoula River basin is the largest and most pristine drainage in North America," Flynt said. The Agape Church founders foster community beyond their walls. Laurel is the principal city of a micropolitan statistical area named for it. Miss Pearl can be businesslike, but they know I'm fair and I love them. Though Daniella was born in New York and has lived in a couple of other states, Mississippi has been her home for the past 25 years. Are There Alligators In Laurel, Mississippi? You might recognize Erin and her husband, Bentwo of Laurel's biggest championsfrom their HGTV makeover show Home Town. Today, there are about 30,000 of them in the state. In 2020, Laurel, MS had a population of 18.4k people with a median age of 38.3 and a median household income of $34,114. For the six of us, all in our twenties, it was like a game: How can we make downtown Laurel feel alive again? "It's nothing but an insurance policy. Alligators range from central Texas eastward to North Carolina. Get a straight-razor shave from Jeremy Williams, the barber in the back of men's-clothing shop Guild & Gentry. We opened in 2017, and now there are very few days you can come in here that we don't have a full house.". The alligators here can often be found in small lagoons, ponds and swamps. This is your guide to discovering Laurel, Mississippi, the official filming location for Home Town on HGTV, starring Laurel's own Erin and Ben Napier. Learn more about us & read our affiliate disclosure. One of the most extended river systems in the country, the Mississippi River is home to many wildlife species such as the paddlefish, leopard frog, cottontail, blue catfish, beaver, coyote, white-tailed deer, otter, muskrat, and even alligators. "They just don't like people is what it comes down to. Jackson County is home to an estimated 12,500 alligators. However, not anyone can trap gators because it is illegal, and a person could get fined up to $10,000. 'You could tell it was bone cracking. The alligators can also often be seen lounging around along the banks of the lakes. 37.5% of those under the age of 18 and 19.3% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line. Comparatively lower numbers of gators in Mississippi, residential development patterns and a healthy respect for the animal appear to have kept Mississippians away from fatal conflicts. "That's a rule you just don't break in the woods.". Interstate 59 and U.S. Route 11 pass through Laurel, both highways leading southwest 30 miles (48km) to Hattiesburg and northeast 57 miles (92km) to Meridian. Smith told the Clarion Ledger that he was sifting through the contents of a 750-pound, 13-foot, 5-inch alligator from Eagle Lake recently, when he discovered two strange objects, including what appeared to be a broken stone arrowhead. My wife, Nece, and I would visit from California each summer. A longtime resident, she served as executive director of Laurel Main Street from 2011 to 2020. Nationwide, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health reports there are 7,000-8,000 snake bites annually. According to the Grenada Star newspaper, it occurred in 2013. She brought together all the people of downtown to get to know each other and become friends. Shes also had the honor of interviewing actress Sela Ward for The Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Experience. Here in Mississippi, coming across animals on the road is almost as common as coming across other motorists. Check out the alligators at Gulf Coast Gator Ranch in the video below: Another place in Mississippi where you can see alligators is at the Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge. Trapper Wayne traps alligators and other nuisance animals for a living and has done this for about 35 years. The premise of the show is simple, and wonderful all at once. Mississippi Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks estimates that there are between 32,000 and 38,000 alligators in Mississippi. When they die, some must sink into the deep ocean. In the late 1960s, American Alligators were thought to be on the verge of extinction in the marshy wetlands bordering the Mississippi River, but they have since made a remarkable recovery. 2023 www.clarionledger.com. Despite the many alligators in South Mississippi, Flynt said alligators are not a direct threat to humans unless an animal is fed by humans on a regular basis. Alligators can remain submerged for 12-24 hours. There have been several sightings of heavyweight alligators in the river. A good field guide to reptiles can help you identify snakes and understand their habits. "Josh had done some real estate development. That breaks down to 19 percent of the state's preferred habitat for alligators in those three counties. "Overall, I think we have a healthy population.". It is historically called the Singing River according to legends that the death chants of the late Pascagoula Indian tribes can still be heard during the night. "On a scale of one to 10, maybe a two," Flynt said. Four deaths a year may not seem like a large number. Our first full day of travel of #roadtrip2017 was a visit to Laurel, Mississippi home of Home Town. "They (Florida) have a tremendously larger alligator population than we do. Between the gator's captor, Smith and others, the group. 'I was very suspicious':Fishweir, possibly hundreds of years old, found in Mississippi. JONES COUNTY, MS (WDAM) - A Jones County family business traps nuisance animals that people are scared of like snakes, bats and even alligators. The officer and a game warden with the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks (MDWFP) set the animal free outside city limits. Hattiesburg Zoo is a small 12-acre zoo that is home to a variety of animals from all around the world including alligators. Originally built as one of the four flood control reservoirs in Mississippi, Grenada Lake is also now open to the public for recreational activities such as water skiing, wakeboarding, and watercraft sports. Common throughout North America, the Thin-Legged Wolf Spider will send chills down your spine just by looking at it! "But I can remember 10 years ago there was an alligator taken off the Pascagoula River near the 1-10 boat ramp that weighed 938 pounds. To control the alligator population, Mississippi adopted a hunting season seven years ago in which tags are awarded through a computer drawing. It has many large lakes that serve as a refuge for all kinds of animals including alligators. Along with it, concern about safety has also grown among some outdoors enthusiasts. Since then, every state that the river flows through has imposed strict cautions that warn people to report alligator sightings immediately and stay out of the water unless supervised. Keep your eyes peeled on the water and you might just spot an alligator. My husband, Joseph, would deliver before and after work and all weekend. "It has a huge amount of food resources between fresh and salt water. Because alligators are. With two rat terriers trotting at his heels, and a long wooden staff in his hand, J.R. Gavin leads me through the woods to one of the old swamp hide-outs. Theres plenty of places to see alligators in their natural habitat all over Mississippi from Jackson to the Mississippi Coast. Ricky Flynt, Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks Alligator Program coordinator, said it's a fascinating animal. I would take photos of a corner downtown that people might overlook. Laurel Police Chief Tommy Cox said more critters may turn up as rainy weather continues. 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