As Tropical Storm Debby pummels South Carolina with heavy rain. The state’s alligators and other wildlife are exploring new environments—from backyard pools to roads and even puddles. This unusual behavior has captured public attention. With viral videos showing these animals far from their typical habitats.
Alligators on the Move
In one such video, Robert Moose Rini. A South Carolina resident. Watches from his car as an alligator slowly crosses a rainy road on Hilton Head Island, pausing briefly in a puddle. “Imagine walking around the corner and seeing that sucker,” Rini commented, reflecting a common fear during hurricane season. Unexpected encounters with dangerous wildlife.
While fake images of sharks swimming in storm-flooded streets often circulate on social media. Real-life sightings of alligators in residential areas are a genuine concern for residents of Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas. Wildlife experts note that although alligators typically stay close to their freshwater habitats. Storms can push them into human neighborhoods, especially where developments encroach on wetlands and rivers.
Storms Displace Wildlife Alligators
This summer, similar instances were reported when Hurricane Beryl and Tropical Storm Alberto drove nearly 200 crocodiles into populated areas in Tamaulipas, Mexico, which borders Texas. In South Carolina, multiple videos have surfaced showing alligators on roads, with one woman from Hilton Head discovering a small gator enjoying a swim in her backyard pool.
Robert Moose Rini, a real estate agent and longtime resident of Hilton Head Island, explains that while locals are aware of the alligators in nearby lagoons, they can be difficult to spot, especially after a storm. “They don’t bug you if you don’t bug them,” Rini says, but he also warns out-of-town homebuyers with pets and young children to be cautious. Alligators, with their large size, powerful jaws, and prehistoric appearance, inspire fear across the coastal South. Though they usually feed on fish, amphibians, and small mammals, they can pose a danger to anything that comes too close.
Coexisting with Caution
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission advises that even in areas wherein citizens have discovered to coexist with alligators, “the capability for battle always exists.” The 2019 horror movie Crawl dramatizes this situation, depicting a Florida family’s battle towards a collection of alligators that invade their home through storm floodwaters. However, professionals strain that if left on my own, alligators normally keep to themselves.
Despite their fearsome reputation, alligators face risks during storms. They can be struck by vehicles as they navigate flooded roads or become trapped and die in storm drains. According to Matt Kraycar, owner of K&K Wildlife Services, most alligators are just seeking a safe place to weather the storm. “They’re going to go back to where the food is and where they feel comfortable,” he says.
Other Wildlife on the Move
Alligators aren’t the only animals displaced by Tropical Storm Debby. Videos have emerged showing a species known as walking catfish appearing in driveway puddles in Florida and South Carolina. Native to Southeast Asia, these slippery, mucus-covered fish are considered an invasive species. And have drawn attention as they make unexpected appearances during the storm.
