SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) – Known for sea turtles nesting on its beaches, wading shorebirds in the surf and white-tailed deer that roam its maritime forests, Jekyll Island has taken extra steps to make sure visitors realize the state park is also home an abundance of alligators.
The Jekyll Island Authority, which manages the island 70 miles south of Savannah, in the last month posted nearly 30 signs at the edge of ponds, alongside ditches and at entrances to its four golf courses. The signs urge visitors to “Be Aware Alligators Are Common in Lakes, Ponds and Ditches” and tell them “Do Not Feed Wildlife,” each printed with a gator graphic.
It’s no coincidence the new signage went up not long after an alligator killed a toddler this summer in a lake at Walt Disney World, said Ben Carswell, the island’s conservation manager. But he said Jekyll Island staff had already been working on notices to discourage tourists from tossing food to alligators, particularly at a pond next to a picnic area.
“We took a hard look at what sort of information we were getting out to people about the presence of alligators on Jekyll Island,” Carswell said. “We don’t want people to be scared about nature and wildlife on Jekyll. But we want them to be aware of it and what these animals and their behaviors are.”
Once a remote getaway for wealthy industrialists, Jekyll Island became a state park after the state of Georgia purchased it in 1947. State law requires that two-thirds of the island remain undeveloped, ensuring people share the park with a wide range of wildlife.