Forget about the sharks. There are gators on the beaches in the Myrtle Beach, SC area
Two alligators were spotted on beaches along the Grand Strand this weekend.
Beachgoers saw an alligator at Surfside Beach Saturday and then another one at Huntington Beach State Park in Murrells Inlet on Sunday.
The alligator at Surfside Beach was removed by South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, according to SCDNR spokesperson Greg Lucas by email.
The alligator on Sunday was located near the jetties at the state park. The one on Saturday, which looks similar in size , was located in the surf at Surfside Beach. Both appear to be juveniles.
Although the alligators were removed, they cannot be relocated. If they are removed, they will be euthanized, according to SCDNR.
Adult alligators have a homing instinct that causes them to return to where they started, meaning they will cross yards and parking lots to get back where they were.
While alligators typically live in freshwater marshes and rivers, it is possible that an alligator may make its way to the ocean, according to wildlife officials. An alligator might take a swim in the ocean to seek out another body of water because of drought conditions, which may have dried up freshwater ponds. Alligators can only tolerate saltwater for a few hours, wildlife officials said.
If you do encounter an alligator, whether on the beach or in a backyard, give the alligator its space and do not approach it, according to SCDNR. Also, never feed an alligator.
A person can call SCDNR for the removal of an alligator.
This story was originally published June 10, 2024 at 5:00 AM.
