How It Started

Even though I didn’t start this organization until late 2014, my "ALLIANCE" with Alligators began when I saw my first one in the wild in Southport, NC in July of 2010. From that moment on, I knew I had found my calling in life! It took my breath away when I looked down and saw what appeared to be a mini-dinosaur in that little creek on a side street in Southport. Unfortunately, I also saw a LOT of trash, mainly from where people had been illegally feeding him (Charlie). From that day forward I have spent all of my spare time during the warmer months looking for more Alligators. I name each and every one of them and I visit them regularly in rotation. I keep a log of when I see them (date, temperature and I also note any injuries). Most of the Alligators stay in their same habitats year after year. Others, I see once and then never again. Through the years I have picked up countless bags of trash. I have also had the opportunity to meet and talk to lots of other Alligator lovers. I was thrilled to find out that I’m not alone in my love for these magnificent creatures. In late 2014 I had the idea that I wanted to take my love for them one step further. That’s when I came up with the idea for the organization, Alligator Alliance, which is 100% self-funded and non-profit. I knew early on that this organization would be a fulltime job, with only two “human” members (my husband and I). The REAL members of this organization are the Alligators and our Alliance is with them. Now I spend all of my time focusing on their protection and conservation, cleaning habitats and talking to others about co-existing with them. I feel incredibly blessed to live in a state where we can see these amazing reptiles in their natural habitats, not just in zoos or aquariums.
You don’t have to be an expert or have a degree to make an impact.

Remember, ONE person CAN make a difference!!