When they die, some must sink into the deep ocean. Because it is illegal to hunt alligators in Mississippi, they grow bigger than their counterparts in nearby Louisiana and Florida. The Wausau-Southern mill from Wausau, Wisconsin, followed in 1911, and the Marathon mill from Memphis, Tennessee, in 1914. The hunts do not include Okatibbee Lake. "Not in the recorded history of Mississippi history, anyway.". Comprised of various natural habitats such as wetlands, woods, forests, grasslands, and beach fronts, it is no surprise that wildlife is diverse and plentiful in the southern state of Mississippi. Deer hunting and squirrel hunting are the most popular, with turkey hunting available during spring. Dana Sanders, Jr. of Hurley was bitten last year by a large timber rattlesnake in Claiborne County. According to the Kppen Climate Classification system, Laurel has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps. "The potential is there," said Ricky Flynt, Alligator Program Coordinator for the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. Hes keeping a century-old business alive. Not only are the mosquitoes huge, theyre relentless. Nationwide, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health reports there are 7,000-8,000 snake bites annually. The 12-foot-1 alligator was killed by a hunter in the Forest Home Chute area, just off the Mississippi River, officials said on Facebook. Alligators living in states without alligator hunters can reproduce more and attain greater sizes. The 15 Deepest Lakes in the United States, The 10 Largest Man-Made Lakes in the United States, Whats the Largest Man Made Lake in Pennsylvania, The Most Alligator Infested Lakes in Mississippi. He had a bird's-eye view. The business hung on in those years somehow. Hi, my name is Meg and, you guessed it, I love to travel. [31] The show portrays renovations of local homes in and near Laurel. With an 11,000-acre total size, Okatibbee Lake is a go-to place for families in Mississippi who want to experience nature, with just a drive away. Alligators are more common in the river's smaller tributaries and swamps, where the water is warmer and there is more cover to hide in. Four deaths a year may not seem like a large number. There was even a 727-pound gator caught in the Mississippi River back in 2017. Have some feedback for us? This is the place! Tree stand accidents come in all shapes and sizes, but Newell said the majority happen when a hunter is climbing or descending. I was born at the South Mississippi State Hospital, known by most people as the charity hospital. Contact Brian Broom at (601) 961-7225 or bbroom@gannett.com. Singer-songwriter Steve Forbert had a hit with the song "Goin' Down to Laurel" (released on his 1978 album Alive on Arrival) which refers to visiting the town of Laurel. That animal would likely come from the Pascagoula River basin that's filled with swamp grass, trees, baitfish and other animals. In a state known for its friendly residents, you can expect to engage in some small talk just about anywhere you goand its great. Snow is a rare sight in Mississippi, but thats okay. "I put my foot where I couldn't see," Sanders said. On a recent MDWFP sanctioned hunt, Lisa A. Pflug was able to kill a 12-foot alligator on the Wolf River. Postal Service request to provide a postal delivery name for their mill and its surrounding lumber camp, Kamper and Lewin submitted the name "Lawrell" as an homage to the area's naturally-growing mountain laurel bushes. Council members are elected from single-member districts. By the 1920sthe peak of Laurel's lumber productionthe area's four mills were producing a total of one million board feet of lumber per day. With its area spanning ten states, it would be no surprise if locals or tourists reported alligator sightings near or within the river. I do everything I can now to help people know that they can stay here and make a living, be comfortable, and be happy. Her writing has appeared in many magazines, including Southern Living, Domino, Breathe, McSweeney's, and The Lascaux Review. Mayor Johnny Magee with his longtime barber, Richard Brown, owner of Hair World. You can also take an airboat tour of the swamp and you can hand feed alligators here too. Smith told the Clarion Ledger that he was sifting through the contents of a 750-pound, 13-foot, 5-inch alligator from Eagle Lake recently, when he discovered two strange objects, including what appeared to be a broken stone arrowhead. The gator was not harmed while being relocated. In the center of town, book a spacious room with soaring ceilings above Sweet Somethings Bakery. "That's a rule you just don't break in the woods.". Laurel is a city in and the second county seat of Jones County, Mississippi, United States. Brookhaven, MS (BRH) Greenwood, MS (GWD) Hazlehurst, MS (HAZ) Jackson . Alligator Lifespan: How Long do Alligators Live? You will immediately recognize the lovely Gardiner Park which is featured so often on Home Town. Problems arise when bears are lured out of their element by food and venture closer to humans than they normally would. If you enjoyed this, be sure to check out 11 Life Lessons Everyone Learns Growing Up In Mississippi.. Alligators range from central Texas eastward to North Carolina. A newcomer finds her people in an unexpected place. Copyright 2016 WDAM. Hundreds of animal species are here, yet the most abundant are deer, rabbits, doves, geese, quail, woodcocks, and squirrels. Temperatures in between produce a mix of males and females. I explained my cataracts theory, and this woman behind the counter looked at me and said, 'I'll take you.' It is also popular among wildlife enthusiasts for opportunities to encounter a wide range of species within a small radius. He plans to . As of the 2010 census, Laurel had a population of 18,540. There may be alligators in the Mississippi River in Louisiana, but they're only found in the marshy swamps around the river. "When we all came home from collegeMallorie and Jim Rasberry, Emily and Josh Nowell, Ben, and mewe were the only people who lived downtown," Erin remembers. When buying cowboy boots, there are a few aspects to consider, such as how far up they go on your legs and their design. We didn't have hot water. And I went, 'Wow, I must go there!' You might even spot one eating a fish! Last edited on 25 February 2023, at 03:44, "U.S. How many times have you been stuck behind a tractor? The real catalyst here happened a little over eight years ago, when Judi Holifield became the director of Laurel Main Street. By the early 1900s, the success of Eastman-Gardner Company's operations in Laurel and the region's superabundance of timber began to attract the attention of other lumber industrialists. Hattiesburg Zoo is a small 12-acre zoo that is home to a variety of animals from all around the world including alligators. Families and tourists will have a lot to do when visiting this lake, with one full-service campground, four parks, and three designated swimming areas. Since then, every state that the river flows through has imposed strict cautions that warn people to report alligator sightings immediately and stay out of the water unless supervised. Mississippi does have six types of venomous snakes: copperhead, coral snake, pygmy rattlesnake, eastern diamondback rattlesnake, canebrake or timber rattlesnake, and cottonmouth or water moccasin. In the process, they can lose teeth, along with when they fight. The ants here in Mississippi definitely mean business. Flynt said it's possible for Mississippi to produce a 1,000-pound alligator that easily could top 18 feet. "In fact, we have never had a reported alligator attack on humans in Mississippi. Identifiable by its distinctive red and black coloring, the Wee Harlequin Bug is a member of the Stink Bug Family and will emit a revolting odor if threatened. There were 7,804 housing units at an average density of 505.9 per square mile (195.3/km2). In the years since, shes had the privilege of having her articles appear in several publications, such as Parents & Kids Magazine and Girl Meets Strong. (AP) The lower three counties of South Mississippi are home to 38 percent of the state's alligators. Instead, the state adopted a mandatory online harvest-data collection program in which hunters register the kill and enter the animal's length, sex, location of kill and hours hunted. Laurel residents Erin and Ben Napier are featured in the HGTV series Home Town, which premiered on March 21, 2017. It was over 13 feet long and weighed 740 pounds. People are investing in their townnot to garner attention or elevate property values but simply to make Laurel better because this is where they want to stay and work and enjoy life. Amtrak's Crescent train connects Laurel with the cities of New York City; Philadelphia; Baltimore; Washington, D.C.; Charlotte, North Carolina; Atlanta; Birmingham, Alabama; and New Orleans. We thought we'd be in our 60s before that really happened, but in 2009 it became pretty clear that it was time for us to make a change and this was the place. Okay, you have to admit, hes kind of cute. Keep your eyes peeled on the water and you might just spot an alligator. The state is mainly known for being home to one of North Americas most extended rivers, the Mississippi River. But it didn't always seem that way. And the python was missing its head. "We discourage feeding them by throwing food in the water, and we discourage the use of fish feeders in the area with alligators, They will utilize the food resource and learn to associate with human activity. "We've never had a single documented attack. "I'd been in Denver, Colorado, most of my adult life (though I grew up on a big farm in South Dakota). Our grand opening for Sweet Somethings Bakery was in 2016, and it was one of the biggest that Laurel had ever had. Black bears and mountain lions may rarely wander through the park, although neither represent resident populations. In Tennessee Williams' play A Streetcar Named Desire, fictional Laurel native Blanche DuBois is known here as a "woman of loose morals" who, after the loss of her family estate 'Belle Reve', frequents the Hotel Flamingo as told to Stanley by the merchant Kiefaber. For a town with a size of only 18,000 people, that is a very big deal! "They're an apex predator and in feeding they have to tear their prey apart.". But around 2008, when they and some friends moved into rough lofts in town, the outlook was bleak. Fishing is also an excellent sport here, as the lake hosts many fish species such as the channel catfish, flathead catfish, black crappie, white crappie, blue catfish, green sunfish, and white bass. ", 'I knew that was it':Caught in the jaws of an alligator. We recently estimated that there are 32,000-38,000 alligators and about 408,000 acres of alligator habitat in Mississippi. . We have seven kids and 10 grandbabies, with another on the way. No, it's not a crock: Two hunting parties in Mississippi both bagged alligators weighing more than 700 pounds. 13. The city was named for thickets of mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia) which were native to the original town site.[5]. It seems very plausible to imagine an alligator floating elegantly, its silhouette adding a threatening component to the famous view of the Gateway Arch. They also have a denser (human) population near water. With two rat terriers trotting at his heels, and a long wooden staff in his hand, J.R. Gavin leads me through the woods to one of the old swamp hide-outs. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. In Mississippi, there is no record of an alligator attack, fatal or not. "On a scale of one to 10, maybe a two," Flynt said. "Bears just avoid people," Young said. Twenty-five percent of the alligator population in Mississippi is found Jackson County and the. If youre looking for somewhere to see alligators in Mississippi then youre in the right place. In the window of a shop on Magnolia Street is the message "Bloom where you're planted." Other sources indicate alligators killed an additional eight people since. It's been an amazing journey. Achim Raschka Public domain picture by U.S. Estimates on the population vary, but biologists agree that Mississippi's black bear numbers are growing. Of course, alligators are also something to watch out for along the Pascagoula River. The Jackson Zoo currently has around 250 animals representing over 120 different species. I hold seven years of professional experience in the content world, focusing on nature, and wildlife. According to TWRA, all of the confirmed gator sightings have been in the extreme southwest part of the state. Illegal to hunt alligators in Mississippi is found Jackson County and the portrays renovations local. ( 195.3/km2 ) Classification system, Laurel has a humid subtropical climate abbreviated! They also have a denser ( human ) population near water 32,000-38,000 alligators about... Snow is a rare sight in Mississippi, United states not only are the mosquitoes huge, theyre relentless youre. From Wausau, Wisconsin, followed in 1911, and the second County of. 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