Get a straight-razor shave from Jeremy Williams, the barber in the back of men's-clothing shop Guild & Gentry. The coastal area has always been part of their natural range. "They're climbing 20 to 25 feet.". "Take two steps back and walk away," Vandeventer preaches. The Gulf Coast Gator Ranch currently has around 70 alligators and they describe themselves as a sanctuary for alligators. Mammals in the park range from tiny, secretive northern shrews to more obvious animals such as otters, beavers, coyotes, and white-tailed deer. So I was in Laurel visiting and was in a restaurant chatting with the family who runs it. Alligator Management. I hold seven years of professional experience in the content world, focusing on nature, and wildlife. Stay at Bonnie's Laurel Cottage, a super-friendly place owned by Bonnie McConkey (it's about five minutes from downtown). I'll take you.' "It's nothing but an insurance policy. Andru1308/Flickr. HattiesburgLaurel Regional Airport is located in an unincorporated area in Jones County near Moselle,[28] 21 miles (34km) southwest of Laurel. Mississippi Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks estimates that there are between 32,000 and 38,000 alligators in Mississippi. here in living color is proof that there once were alligators, and this is what they looked like! Although the odds of dying from a venomous snake bite are low, the pain caused and the price of treatment are extreme. The median income for a household in the city was $25,988, and the median income for a family was $30,185. Laurel is currently declining at a rate of -0.82% annually and its population has decreased by -2.41% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 17,161 in 2020. When I was growing up, I could go by that hotel and look in the window at the coffee shop, but I couldn't walk in. In Mississippi, venomous species include the Eastern Diamondback rattlesnake, pygmy rattlesnake, timber rattlesnake, cottonmouth, coral snake and the most common, the copperhead. Go shopping at Laurel Mercantile Co., JParker Reclaimed, Adam Trest Home, and more businesses along North Magnolia and on nearby streets. Without it, you'd see me doing Mississippi Outdoors on a five-gallon bucket.". Ben and I were the storytellers. Snow is a rare sight in Mississippi, but thats okay. They're expending no energy and they're living off body fat.". Laurel is the principal city of a micropolitan statistical area named for it. Tree stand accidents come in all shapes and sizes, but Newell said the majority happen when a hunter is climbing or descending. For hunters, there is another serious danger that awaits. Stock up on artisanal beef jerky and homemade fudge at The Knight Butcher. The Pascagoula River is one place capable of it.". My husband, Joseph, would deliver before and after work and all weekend. "We don't know exactly how many sets of teeth they go through, but we think it's 2,000 to 3,000," Flynt said. sankax/Flickr. I'm not needy, but I know in Colorado there are a couple of handfuls of people who would take me. Just the vastness and pristineness make it a great home for alligators to thrive in. The officer used a catch pole to secure it and put the gator in a dog box in the back of his truck. 11 The Estimated Alligator Population In Florida Is Around One Million. Not only did Sanders endure pain and several days in a Vicksburg medical facility, his treatment bills totaled $442,000. Fourteen northern Mississippi counties have produced no alligator records, but nuisance alligator complaints have come from as far north as Coahoma, Lafayette, and Itawamba Counties. In Tennessee Williams' play A Streetcar Named Desire, fictional Laurel native Blanche DuBois is known here as a "woman of loose morals" who, after the loss of her family estate 'Belle Reve', frequents the Hotel Flamingo as told to Stanley by the merchant Kiefaber. An adult alligator hasbetween 74 and 84 teeth thatare mostly hollow. After graduating from the University of Southern Mississippi, Daniella began to hone her writing skills through various internships, working for The Royal Obsession and Anatomie clothing. My wife, Nece, and I would visit from California each summer. I invite people to do workshops on homeownership, and I tell them where I came from to show them how much Laurel has changed. "We've never had a single documented attack. Erin Napier Pens Inspiring Note About How Far Laurel, Mississippi, Has Come, What It's Really Like To Have Your Home Renovated On Ben And Erin Napier's 'Home Town', Ree Drummond Convinced Ben And Erin Napier To Star In Upcoming Christmas Movie. He advised neighbors to be aware of your surroundings, keep your pets on a leash and the leave it to animal control if you encounter a critter. With its area spanning ten states, it would be no surprise if locals or tourists reported alligator sightings near or within the river. Ribbon snakes love water, but are excellent climbers too. Shes also had the honor of interviewing actress Sela Ward for The Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Experience. Because it is illegal to hunt alligators in Mississippi, they grow bigger than their counterparts in nearby Louisiana and Florida. ContactBrian Broomat 601-961-7225 orbbroom@gannett.com. Those figures are based on habitat summaries, satellites and surveys by the Department of Wildlife. According to the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks, there are about 55 alligators currently making Okatibbee Lake their home. In 2007, a 5-footer was captured alive in Johnston County near Micro. The location of that shotgun house I grew up in was 401 South Cooks Avenue. "Overall, I think we have a healthy population.". 2022 Alligator Hunting Season opens Friday in Mississippi The officer and a game warden with the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks (MDWFP) set the animal free outside. "There is no question that the coastal region, especially the Pascagoula River, is home to some of the largest alligators in Mississippi," Flynt said. Alligator mississippiensis Status: Threatened Classification: Reptile Description American alligators are large crocodilians found only in the United States. I went to my car in tears, and I said to myself, 'Well, I guess I'm moving here.' Feeding alligators is prohibited in Mississippi because of the apparent dangers that might arise after alligators identify a source of food due to human activities. It's been an amazing journey. They have a long rounded snout with upward facing nostrils so they can breathe while the rest of . But when people interact with the reptiles, such as by feeding them, they become more comfortable around humans and the risk of conflict dramatically rises. American Alligators are the state reptile for Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi. According to the Kppen Climate Classification system, Laurel has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps. Mechanization of agriculture reduced the number of farming jobs. The three-foot gator turned up at the restaurant location on Leontyne Price Boulevard. "Don't try to sneak up on the thing," Young said. There were 6,925 households, out of which 29.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.2% were married couples living together, 23.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.4% were non-families. [10] The city reached its peak census population in 1960, and has declined about one third since then. Recent rainy weather may be the reason an alligator turned up at a Popeyes restaurant in Laurel on Monday, August 22. On colder days, they usually stay in the water but you may still see their head bobbing in and out of the water every now and again. "It was kind of fake it till you make it," says Erin Napier. Adults-only Shows from $61.00 per adult (price varies by group size) The area 100 Jody Compretta Dr, Bay Saint Louis, MS 39520-4570 Full view Best nearby Restaurants 59 within 3 miles Starfish Cafe 169 0.2 mi$$ - $$$ American Seafood Mediterranean Serious Bread Bakery 173 330 ft$ Bakeries American Cafe The Blind Tiger 614 "It has a huge amount of food resources between fresh and salt water. So I stayed. Flynt said the alluvial valley is gathering nutrients and is being funneled into the Mississippi River . The best way to see alligators in this river is by getting out onto the water with a boat tour. Laurel is the headquarters of the Jones County Sheriff's Department, which administers in the county. What Happens To The Gorgeous Furnishings Featured On HGTV 'Home Town'? Hundreds of animal species are here, yet the most abundant are deer, rabbits, doves, geese, quail, woodcocks, and squirrels. GULFPORT, Miss. Mississippi's woods are filled with true wonders of nature, but danger lurks in the outdoors as well. As each person would retire, their stock would get bought by the other employees. Hes keeping a century-old business alive. Many of the homes and buildings of the district are featured on the current HGTV series Home Town. "People aren't climbing eight or 10 feet anymore," Newell said. They have alligators at Gulf Coast Gator Ranch & Tours. Starring Ben and Erin Napier, the couple restores homes in their town while also highlighting small businesses. They also have a denser (human) population near water. Jackson County is home to an estimated 12,500 alligators. Gardiner Park. "That area (Pascagoula River) is the most stable gator population in the state. LAUREL, Miss. Alligators can be found in every county of the state, but southeast Mississippi reigns king. City officials said restaurant staff noticed the unusual guest in the drive-thru lane. "They're an apex predator and in feeding they have to tear their prey apart.". There was even a 727-pound gator caught in the Mississippi River back in 2017. I watched the town die and saw the people try to save it." [6], The economic prosperity of Laurel's timber era (18931937) and "timber families" created the famed Laurel Central Historic District as a byproduct. According to the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks, there are about 55 alligators currently making Okatibbee Lake their home. Below I have listed the best places to see alligators in Mississippi including the exact spots and locations you should visit. Families and tourists will have a lot to do when visiting this lake, with one full-service campground, four parks, and three designated swimming areas. Laurel is the headquarters of the Jones County Sheriff's Department, which administers in the county. To find the gator pond, turn right onto Robert McGhee Road from Park Road. Due to the variety of habitats in the state, many interesting animals, like armadillos, bottlenose dolphins, flying squirrels, kingsnakes, and alligators, have been seen living here. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Through LDWF's extensive research and wise management that includes sustainable wild harvest and alligator farming, Louisiana's wild alligator population has increased from less than 100,000 to more than 2 million in the past 50 years.There are also nearly 1 million alligators on farms in . Alligators can't digest their prey after air and water temperatures fall below about 70 degrees. Copyright 2016 WDAM. Four deaths a year may not seem like a large number. It's likely the reptiles are migrating from Mississippi, where there is a. I do believe 1,000-pounders could be there.". Laurel is a city located in Jones County Mississippi.With a 2023 population of 16,747, it is the 25th largest city in Mississippi and the 2714th largest city in the United States. 'You could tell it was bone cracking. GULFPORT, Miss. By the end of World War I, Laurel's mills were producing and shipping more yellow pine lumber than those of any other location in the entire world. Thank you! I started doing research into all these different places. The alligators can also often be seen lounging around along the banks of the lakes. 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. 28.9% of the population and 21.4% of families were below the poverty line. Bockman has stored his prize catch in a deer processor's walk-in cooler. The statistics provided on the US Fish and Wildlife Service website are about the same. It is believed that there are somewhat more than 30,000 alligators in Mississippi, with the majority residing in the state's southern region. Small town America being restored, one house at a time. It is also popular among wildlife enthusiasts for opportunities to encounter a wide range of species within a small radius. The average household size was 2.61, and the average family size was 3.21. Common throughout North America, the Thin-Legged Wolf Spider will send chills down your spine just by looking at it! Mrs Catherine Gardiner, the wife of one of the lumber barons, engaged the firm of Fredrick Law Olmstead to landscape a city parkway system for tiny Laurel. The alligators are reaping the benefits of that, which results in abnormal specimens. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious diseases reported 97 deaths from the virus in 2014 nationwide. In the window of a shop on Magnolia Street is the message "Bloom where you're planted." By the time an animal control officer showed up, the gator had taken cover under a pile of pallets next to the restaurants dumpster. Alligator Lifespan: How Long do Alligators Live? When an alligators tooth breaks off, a new one grows in its place. The ants here in Mississippi definitely mean business. During its first decade or so, Laurel existed as little more than a glorified lumber camp surrounding Kamper and Lewin's primitive sawmill. Young, who is a biologist and spent many years working with black bears, said low numbers of bears in the state is part of the reason they've not been a threat, but their nature should also be considered. Stable gator population in the back of his truck till you make it a great for. Nearby streets in Laurel visiting and was in a dog box in the window a! On Leontyne price Boulevard and all weekend hunt alligators in this River is place... 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