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How Tough Are Alligators? Really Tough!

    Alligators, known for their leathery hides and ability to survive in a variety of inhospitable environments, are considered to be among the hardiest animals alive.  The annual alligator harvest has been known to showcase the alligators’ high survivability rate, with hunters at times harvesting alligators that have shown the ability to live decades with, and in, tough conditions.
    Last season, a large alligator was harvested by local hunters and found to have a 10-pound boat anchor in its stomach.  In fact, odd items have a history of showing up in alligator stomachs, including ancient Indian artifacts, animal collars, footballs, and more.
    This week, area hunters harvested a large alligator that was suffering from a debilitating condition that would seem to be fatal.  This alligator at some point in its early life lost the center section of its lower jaw and the bottom part of its mouth.  However, it had managed to continue to eat and survive, growing to a hefty 12-foot, 6 inch length before being harvested on a Lake County tag in the St. Johns River system.
    Alligators are believed to be among the oldest animals living, and have survived through the years by overcoming overhunting and a host of natural threats.  With a hide strong enough to stop a 9 mm or even a .45 caliber bullet, the alligator has a reputation of being almost ‘bulletproof’, with an exterior skin made up of scales and bony plates, known as osteoderms, embedded within a thick layer of collagen. The skin gets tougher as alligators age, making the large examples most coveted by harvesters the hardest to kill.