The American Alligator

What if one giant splash could help an entire neighborhood?

American alligators may look fierce, but the biggest alligators often play an important role in helping other animals survive. This week, we're heading into the wetlands to discover how one muddy hole can become a lifeline.

When the water begins disappearing from Wild Marsh, the other animals can't understand why old Boone the alligator keeps digging, scraping, and making such a mess. His noisy work seems to chase everyone away. But as the marsh changes, Boone's mysterious project may be exactly what his neighbors need. Can the animals learn that sometimes kindness doesn't always look the way we expect?

Along the adventure, kids will uncover:

• Why American alligators dig special "alligator holes" that become homes for dozens of wetland animals
• How alligators can replace their teeth throughout their lives
• What makes an alligator's jaws incredibly powerful when closing, but surprisingly weak when opening
• Why American alligators are considered a keystone species, helping entire wetland ecosystems thrive

Every episode of Wild and Kind Kids blends an original story with real animal science, helping kids build curiosity about the natural world while discovering that kindness can take many different forms. It's a screen-free educational podcast for kids that's perfect for family listening, homeschool science, or winding down together after a busy day.

Keep exploring:

• Download this week's free American alligator coloring sheet
• Follow us on Instagram @wildandkindkidspod
• Find more animal activities, printable resources, or request a future episode at wildandkindkids.com

Learn along with us:

• American Alligator (National Geographic Kids)
• American Alligator (The National Zoo) 
• Alligators need warm weather to make an area their home (The Washington Post) 
• Crocodiles have the strongest bite ever measured (National Geographic) 
• Alligator holes (The Florida Museum) 

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Welcome to Wild and Kind Kids, y'all. And if you're part of our summer kids club, check your inbox. Your activities await. But right now, it's time to chomp. Okay, y'all. Let's hold our hands out in front of ourselves. And I want you to put one hand on top of the other. Yes, I want it to look like you have a closed mouth. Now, when I say open, you're gonna spread your arms apart, pulling one up high and one down low. And then I'm gonna say chomp and you're gonna smack them together as fast as you can. You guys ready? Okay, open. Nice and big over here. Chomp. Yes, open. Chomp. Open. Chomp. Okay, don't hurt yourself. Open. Chomp. Nice. Now here is the mystery. Today's animal is one of nature's best at one of those movements. But which one? Let's get learning. I'm Carrie, and I grew up on a zoo. I'm Lincoln.

SPEAKER_03 1:11

I'm Eiza. And we're wild about animals.

SPEAKER_00 1:16

Welcome to the Wild and Kind Kids Podcast. Hey Lincoln and Eliza. Hi Mom. Are you all ready to head to the wetlands today?

SPEAKER_01 1:28

Um, sure.

SPEAKER_00 1:29

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 1:30

But we don't have our bathing suits on.

SPEAKER_00 1:32

That's a good point, but I don't think you're gonna want to get in the water today, because that is where today's animal loves to hang out. Let's see if our listeners can get it in three clues. Clue number one, today's animal is a giant reptile. Clue number two, they have a powerful mouth with as many as 80 teeth, and they can grow to be more than 10 feet long. What is it?

SPEAKER_03 1:57

Alligator!

SPEAKER_00 1:59

Yes, let's hear one. That's an alligator bellow, and it's one of the many sounds that they make. American alligators are big, dark reptiles with thick, bumpy skin, short legs, broad snouts, and long, muscular tails. Most adults grow between 8 to 13 feet long. At the upper end, y'all, that's about as long as a car. And almost every part of an alligator's body is built for life in the water. Its eyes and nostrils sit high on top of its head, allowing it to keep most of its body hidden underwater while it watches and breathes above the surface, which is, you know, pretty sneaky. It has this strong tail that sweeps from side to side when it swims. That does most of the work as it glides through the water. Its legs help it steer and move through shallow areas, but in the water, the tail is the real engine. Now, on land, those short legs can make the alligator look a little awkward, but it can still move surprisingly fast for short distances. You'll find American alligators in warm, wet places across the southeastern United States, like freshwater swamps, marshes, lakes, ponds, slow-moving streams. If there's plenty of water and lots of places to hide, an alligator just might call it home. Now, one more cool trick. People often confuse alligators with crocodiles. But here's an easy way to remember the difference. An alligator has a wide round snout that's almost shaped like the letter U. A crocodile's snout is longer and pointier, more like the letter V. And when an alligator closes its mouth, most of its bottom teeth disappear. But on a crocodile, you can still see some sticking up. Okay, Lincoln and Eliza hit me with some alligator facts.

SPEAKER_03 4:10

They wear solar-powered alligator armor.

SPEAKER_00 4:15

Pretty much. Alligators have these hard, bony plates on their backs called scutes. Those are the ridges that you see running down their back and tail. And those scoots do two amazing jobs. First, they act like armor, protecting the alligator from bites and injuries. And second, they actually help the alligator warm up after it's been basking in the sun. Now that is important because, as we said, alligators are reptiles. They can't make their own body heat the way that mammals can. Instead, they rely on the warmth of the world around them. So as the sun warms their backs, the blood vessels inside those bony plates help move the heat throughout the body. Okay, give me another fact, y'all.

SPEAKER_03 5:02

Fact! Alligators can have hundreds or even thousands of teeth in their lifetime.

SPEAKER_00 5:08

It's true. At any time, most alligators have between 74 to 80 cone-shaped teeth working for them, and they line those U-shaped snouts. Those teeth are specially designed for the life of a carnivore. That's an animal that gets most of its diet from other animals. But over time, those teeth break or get worn down. So deep inside an alligator's jaw, new teeth are almost always growing. They're lined up underneath the old ones, just waiting for their turn. When a tooth breaks or wears out, a brand new one slowly moves into its place. It's like having a stack of cups. You remove one from the top, and another one is waiting behind it. This system means that a single alligator can go through hundreds or even thousands of teeth in its lifetime. What else, y'all?

SPEAKER_01 6:05

Their jaws are super powerful, but only in one direction.

SPEAKER_00 6:10

Yeah. Hold on to your pants here, y'all. An alligator has one of the most powerful chomps on the planet. That powerful bite can help them crush even the hard shell of animals like turtles. Now, scientists measure bite force using something called PSI. To put it into perspective, a person can bite with about 120 psi. A lion, around 650 psi. But a large American alligator, more than 2,000 psi. And some measurements have been over 3,000 psi. That is powerful. But get this, it's just that chomping motion that's so powerful. The muscles that open their snout are actually pretty weak. So you might have seen a picture of a person holding an alligator's snout shut with like just one hand. There's no way that's true. Oh, it is. We used to have an alligator named Ollie at the zoo, so I have seen it. To be clear, you should never try this. Because, y'all, alligators are wild animals and should always be left alone. Alright, I need one more fact.

SPEAKER_02 7:23

Alligators look scary, but they're really gentle and caring moms.

SPEAKER_00 7:27

Yeah. Mother alligators are some of the most caring reptiles in the world. After building a nest of leaves and mud, a mother alligator stays nearby for weeks, guarding her eggs from other hungry animals. And when it's finally time to hatch, the baby alligators start making these tiny squeaking noises from inside their eggs. It's these little chirps that tell their mom, we're ready to go. She gently uncovers the nest and believe it or not, sometimes picks up the babies in her giant mouth to carry them safely to water. Even with more than 70 sharp teeth, she can carry those babies without hurting them. And she'll stay close to her young for months, protecting them from danger as they learn to survive. So even though alligators may be fierce, they're also some of nature's most devoted moms. All right, y'all. I think it's time to meet one up close. It's time for our story of the day. Morning dawned over Everglades National Park in the southeastern United States in spectacular fashion. As the sun stretched across the wetlands, the water shimmered with golden light. A chorus of frogs began their morning song, while dragonflies zigged, zagged, and darted through the air. Nearby, a great blue heron stepped carefully through the shallow water, its sharp eyes fixed on tiny fish below. It was a peaceful morning. Until Boone, an old American alligator with a round snout and a crooked grin, was hard at work, digging through the mud, his scaly back moving from side to side. He had scratches on his nose, algae between his scales, and the slow, patient expression of an alligator who had seen many wet seasons, and just as many dry ones. Boone grunted as he worked. It was a deep, rumbly sound, like distant thunder underneath the mud. Then he planted his strong feet in the mud and went back to work. A bullfrog named Freddy sighed the deepest of sighs.

SPEAKER_03 10:13

There he goes again.

SPEAKER_00 10:15

Every morning it was the same thing. The water got muddy, the cattails wobbled. Mud plopped onto all the lily pads. On and on it went like this. Boon hard at work, the rest of the animals ducking for cover. Today, Freddy had had enough. I mean, he'd had enough yesterday.

SPEAKER_03 10:43

That's it. This calls for an emergency marsh meeting.

SPEAKER_00 10:49

He nailed a sign to a cypress tree. Emergency marsh meeting. All marsh residents welcome. Word spread quickly. Even the turtles, who moved very, very slowly, managed to arrive. The animals crowded around a patch of soft grass beside the marsh. Freddy cleared his throat.

SPEAKER_03 11:15

Thank you all for coming. What seems to be the problem?

SPEAKER_00 11:19

asked Millie, the turtle. Freddy pointed across the marsh. Right on cue. That he cried.

SPEAKER_03 11:32

That is the problem.

SPEAKER_00 11:34

The heron fluffed her feathers. I can't even see the fish in all that muddy water. A dragonfly buzzed in tiny circles. He splashed mud on my favorite reed. Millie the Turtle frowned.

SPEAKER_03 11:52

My sunny large is covered in dirt.

SPEAKER_00 11:55

A little fish poked his nose above the water. My whole neighborhood is cloudy. Everyone began talking at once.

SPEAKER_03 12:04

It's just too much.

SPEAKER_00 12:09

Finally, Millie raised one wrinkly foot.

SPEAKER_03 12:13

One at a time.

SPEAKER_00 12:15

The marsh grew quiet. Then Freddy blinked.

SPEAKER_03 12:20

Wait, where's Boone? Is he not even here?

SPEAKER_00 12:24

Everyone turned toward the sound. Millie smiled.

SPEAKER_03 12:32

Looks like he's still digging.

SPEAKER_00 12:35

The meeting continued anyway.

SPEAKER_03 12:38

I think he should stop, said the heron.

SPEAKER_00 12:42

Maybe he could dig somewhere else, suggested Freddy. Maybe smaller splashes, buzzed a dragonfly hopefully. Or maybe only after lunch, said the fish. Everyone nodded. Let's make a big note, cried Freddy. The turtles found the smoothest lily pad they could. The heron dipped a feather into berry juice for ink, and one by one each animal added its mark. A tiny frog footprint, a turtle claw scratch, a dragonfly wing print. Even the fish made a little tail splash. At the top it read, please stop digging. Freddy proudly carried the note toward Boone. Boone looked up just as a giant wave of muddy water landed right on top of the note. The berry ink ran. The footprints disappeared. The lily pad drooped into a soggy green pancake. Boone, who hadn't even had time to read the ink, offered a helpful swipe of his tail to clear the mud from the now ruined note. He gently nudged it back toward Freddy. He smiled a sympathetic smile. And went right back to digging. Freddie could not believe it.

SPEAKER_03 14:20

He never even read it.

SPEAKER_00 14:23

He sputtered. Millie shrugged.

SPEAKER_03 14:26

I don't think anybody can read it now.

SPEAKER_00 14:29

The animals grumbled, but they shook their heads. They stomped their tiny feet. And still Boone kept digging. Days passed. And things began to change in the wetlands. The clouds disappeared. Day after day, the hot sun beat down. The marsh grew smaller. The puddles disappeared. Mud cracked in the heat. And all the animals found it harder and harder to find cool water. Freddie hopped from one shrinking puddle to the next. Millie wandered farther than she ever had before, searching for a place to soak. The fish crowded together in the deepest water they could find. Even the great blue heron had to search longer for breakfast. Everyone grew worried.

SPEAKER_03 15:29

What do we do?

SPEAKER_00 15:31

No one had an answer. The next day, the little fish gasped. Look! They all turned in the direction the fish was looking. Freddy hopped as fast as he could. The fish zipped ahead. Millie the turtle hurried. Well, you know, as much as a turtle can hurry. Then they all stopped. Water! Lots of it. Deep. Cool water. It filled the giant muddy hole that Boone had been digging all along. The fish darted in first.

SPEAKER_01 16:12

Oh this feels wonderful.

SPEAKER_00 16:16

Millie Turtle slid in beside them. The heron crept to the edge and cooled its feet. Dragonflies danced and dove above the water. Freddy leapt into the hole with a splash and the biggest smile that he'd worn in days. Soon, the muddy hole that everyone had complained about had become the busiest place in the whole marsh. Weeks later, dark clouds rolled in, and the Everglades changed again. Rain returned. Glorious buckets of rain. The marsh filled again. Animals spread back out to their favorite places. One morning, Freddy looked around.

SPEAKER_03 17:05

Where's Boone?

SPEAKER_00 17:06

Millie smiled.

SPEAKER_03 17:08

He wandered off. He always does. Maybe Damash needs him somewhere else.

SPEAKER_00 17:16

The alligator had quietly slipped away.

SPEAKER_03 17:21

We never got to say anything. I don't think we needed to.

SPEAKER_00 17:26

Months passed. The dry season returned. Then a familiar sound echoed across the marsh. Only this time, as Boone flicked mud behind him, he did so next to that old meeting sign, which still hung from a cypress tree. Only now someone had painted over the words. Now it read, Welcome to Wild Marsh. Digging aloud. Boone never even looked at the sign. He simply placed his sturdy feet in the mud and started digging. Alright, friends, did you know that alligator holes, like the one Boone was digging, are real? It's true. Wetlands, like the Everglades, change throughout the year. During the rainy season, there's water almost everywhere. But when the weather turns dry, some of that water disappears. And that's when American alligators get to work. Using their strong feet, powerful tails, and broad snouts, they dig deep holes in the mud. When the dry season arrives, those holes hold on to water longer than the rest of the wetland. Soon frogs, turtles, fish, birds, lots of animals gather there to cool off, find water, or search for food. Scientists even have a special name for animals that change their habitat in ways that help other living things.

SPEAKER_03 19:07

They're called ecosystem engineers.

SPEAKER_00 19:11

Yeah. And here's something really interesting. Alligators aren't digging those holes to be helpful. They're digging them because they help alligators survive and even, you know, catch their own food. But the amazing thing is, without even trying, they end up helping all kinds of other animals too. That's why they're called a keystone species, a name scientists give to animals that ecosystems rely on to stay healthy. Nature's pretty incredible like that.

SPEAKER_03 19:42

Now it's time for your Wild and Kind Mission.

SPEAKER_00 19:48

Boone helped his marsh simply by doing one thing really well. And we can help wetlands too. This week's wild and kind mission is to become wetland protectors. Yes, wetlands don't just help alligators. They help us too. They act like giant natural sponges, soaking up extra rain, helping clean our water, and providing homes for thousands of animals. But many wetlands have been damaged by pollution and other human activities. So here's your mission. The next time you visit a pond, a creek, a river, or even a wetland with a grown-up, take a good look around. If it's safe, and with your grown-up's permission, pick up one piece of litter, one wrapper, one bottle cap, one plastic bag. It may not seem like much, but little acts of kindness can make a big difference for an entire habitat. And if you're part of our kids' club this week, be sure to check out the book Scrap Metal Swan. It's a beautiful story about cleaning up a river, and it reminds us the things people leave behind don't simply disappear. They can become part of the homes of wild animals.

SPEAKER_03 21:08

So this week, be a wetland protector. And maybe even help an old alligator named Boon. Before we go, it's time for wild and kind trivia!

SPEAKER_00 21:23

Last week, we shared a riddle about the beaver. Did you catch it? You ready for another riddle about an animal that we haven't covered yet? Here we go.

SPEAKER_03 21:34

My family name says black, except my fur is white. I love berries, but really, really love salmon. In winter, I sleep for a very long time. What animal am I?

SPEAKER_00 21:49

Debate it with your family and tune in next time to hear the answer.

SPEAKER_03 21:54

See you then, Wanakine Kids.

SPEAKER_00 21:58

This podcast is produced by John, also known as Lincoln and Eliza's dad. If you are enjoying these adventures, please subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. Leave us a review and tell your friends. To find a coloring sheet for today's creature, explore more episodes, or request an animal for a future story, visit wildandkindkids.com. You can also find us on Instagram at Wild and Kind Kids Pod. Thanks for exploring with us, friends. Until next time.