Swamp Tales

Swamp Tales replicates the forested wetlands where turtles and alligators make their home among stagnant waters.

Visitors to Swamp Tales not only enjoy an up-close look at young alligators and several turtles but learn about other wetland species that are currently threatened and what they can do to protect them.

Did you know that American alligators now thrive throughout the U.S.? In the 1960s, the alligator has almost gone extinct. Thanks to endangered species protections, its numbers have rebounded. 

Animals in This Exhibit

  • American alligator

    Alligators are apex predators in the swamp, feeding on fish, amphibians, reptiles, and just about anything else they can get their jaws around.

  • Texas diamondback terrapin

    These turtles are native to coastal tidal marshes in the United States. It gets its name from the diamond-shaped patterns on top of its shell.