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Zam's Bayou Swamp Tours

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Zam's Bayou Swamp Tours - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Swamp Tours Along Bayou Lafourche

No trip to Cajun country is complete without stepping aboard a boat to experience this wild and beautiful territory first-hand

by Louisiana's Cajun Bayou

September 13, 2023

The dark waters of south Louisiana’s swamps have captured the imaginations of visitors for centuries. No trip to Cajun country is complete without stepping aboard a boat to experience this wild and beautiful territory first-hand. With alligators lurking around every corner, ghostly moss swaying from cypress limbs, and egrets and herons standing sentry over their fishing grounds, the swamp beckons travelers to venture deep into South Louisiana’s iconic, wildlife-teeming habitat.

The swamp view with Zams

Gator Spotting with Zams

Snapping Turtle at Zam's Ecological Park in Thibodaux

Start with a visit to Zam’s  Swamp Tours in Thibodaux, where you can get acquainted with alligators, snapping turtles, and nutrias before stepping aboard a covered boat to spot these creatures and others in their natural habitat. With a TikTok legend and seasoned Cajun guide driving your boat and sharing stories, tricks, and tips about Cajun life on the bayou, this is one boat tour you won’t soon forget.

A gator, spotted swimming, during a 2 Da Swamp tour on Bayou Des Allemands

Scenery along Bayou Des Allemands

View along the bayou from onboard a 2 Da Swamp Tour boat

The rhythms of traditional Cajun music ring out for those who tour Bayou Des Allemands on a leisurely boat ride with 2 Da Swamp . Learn about the Cajuns who settled here and view ancient cypress trees, dugout pirogues, and other artifacts of Cajun life. You can even catch live crabs when in season, or book a sunset cruise to see how life along the bayou shifts and stirs against the colors of the setting sun.

Sunset airboat tour with Arthur Matherne

Gator sighting during an Arthur Matherne airboat tour

See quintessential swamp landscapes like these during an Arthur Matherne airboat tour.

In the mood for a little more speed? In Des Allemands you can also hop aboard an airboat tour with Arthur Matherne, now reopened after COVID closure. Airboat Tours by Arthur offers wild rides for groups of up to 15, in boats capable of reaching speeds of 60 mph on open water, and of riding over marsh and deep into the cypress swamp where other boats cannot go. An airboat tour is a quintessential South Louisiana experience, so come spend a fall afternoon with the wind in your hair, immersed in the thrill of flying across the bayou, then slow to an idle to absorb the beauty of this ethereal landscape.

Visit Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou to plan and book your South Louisiana swamp tour today.

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Zam's Swamp Tour

Review Highlights

“ ZZ was our tour guide (fun fact he's also a WWE wrestler) and he knew almost everything about the bayous & cooking. ” in 13 reviews

“ Diego is born and raised in the bayou - if you're looking for n authentic Cajun bayou swamp experience, look no further. ” in 8 reviews

“ across the street from the restaurant and gift shop is their home and in the yard they have set up picnic tables under the oak trees. ” in 4 reviews

Location & Hours

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141 Kraemer Bayou Rd

Thibodaux, LA 70301

Serving Thibodaux Area

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Amenities and More

About the business.

Business owner information

Zamariah L.

Business Owner

See and hold LIVE alligators! Along with many other animals! Includes a about a 1 hour boat ride and about a half hour backyard tour. …

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Overall rating

ZZ was an awesome tour guide. We started with a tour of his 'backyard' which consisted of chickens, goats, turtles, rabbits, raccoons and of course alligators from little babies to a giant papa. This was as authentic as you can get. ZZ was full of information and very charismatic. We highly recommend choosing Zam's Swamp Tour.

I highly recommend Zam's! I went here with my bachelorette party and we had a blast! ZZ was really fun and very interactive! We got to hold the baby alligators and snake. They do a great job making it a real Cajun experience. We will be back! Thank you for the wonderful memories!

ZZ was great tour guide (guy with the short shorts)! We had so much fun!

We came across Zam's when we found out another swamp tour in the area we had made reservations with didn't take cards. We were so disappointed - we really wanted to do a swamp tour! We figured we'd try our luck at Zam's, which we'd seen a sign for earlier. I cannot possibly overstate how awesome this place was! Let me start with the facts: - It's weird. There's a room full of snakes, and the owners have pet racoons, goats, chickens, and alligators. I'll spare you the details, you'll learn about them when you get there. - It's run by fantastic people. Diego was our guide, and he was the most entertaining, informative, friendly person we encountered on our whole trip to LA. I wish i could be best friends with him. - it's a lot of bang for your buck. I saw Diego smack an alligator in the mouth with a flip flop while hanging onto a tree branch. You'll pretty much be edge of your seat the whole time. This was such a fantastic tour - I want to go back and do it again! And for $25 it was a steal, I would have paid double for it! It was honestly the best part of our entire vacation. Thank you so much Diego!

If you are looking for smoothly run, professional tour, this might not be for you. If you are looking to meet a bayou character who will regale you with f-bomb laden alligator wrangling stories and Cajun recipes, then you might enjoy it. Our tour began in the backyard of Zam's parents home where we met his menagerie of animals: chickens, goats, rabbits,...and several alligators and turtles kept in what seemed like inhumane conditions. He theatrically poked a massive sleeping alligator (this one he claims to have caught single-handedly after hours of fighting) producing what seemed like a staged, but impressive roar out of the poor guy. The petting zoo experience left me feeling a little sad. The trip on the pontoon was rather dull - Zam didn't even try to find any wildlife. We saw a couple of herons was all. We asked lots of questions and Zam answered them knowledgeably. He has a ton of personality and was very entertaining. Of particular note was Zam's extensive knowledge of bayou hunting and fishing.

ZZ is a great entertainer. A real look at southern Louisiana. I took a large group there and everyone loved it. A lot of cool animals that you'll be able to get a better interaction with then at the zoo. Must see

Best authentic tour of the swamp. We have been on others and they don't compare. Diego is the real deal. He was born and raised in the local area. He entertained and educated us. Would come back again.

Best experience ever. People be so friendly. Also ZZ is so funny and nice. Definitely recommend this to place.

They have a nice bayou to tour, just should leave out their petting zoo tour. Because it's obviously a "feeding farm" for the pet alligators and enormous snakes. I really couldn't handle that.... Wanted to let the bunnies, chickens, and goats out of their cages. AND the gators. Let it happen naturally! Won't go back or refer.

I found this place on yelp and it was the closest from d plantation location and WE LOVED our experience . Our guide Lloyd wad pleasant , knowledgeable and caring . I promise u ,u r safe when u r with Lloyd .

Last minute idea for something different on Mothers Day. It was a beautiful day, the tour was entertaining, the boat ride awesome. Diego (tour guide) was incredible. Very knowledgeable of the area and culture. Had a fantastic time... will go back again!!

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Zam's Swamp Tour

141 Kraemer Bayou Rd, Thibodaux , Louisiana 70301 USA

• Independent
• Credit Cards Accepted
• Not Wheelchair Accessible
• Public Restrooms
• Outdoor Seating

Learn more about this business on Yelp .

“a true Cajun bayou swamp tour”

A Cajun bayou swamp tour only accessible by boat. See alligators, turtles, birds, fur-bearing animals.  French-speaking guides available. A gift shop is available, and an on-site Cajun restaurant is open on weekends. Large groups are also welcome with advance reservations

Reviewed by John M.

After reading other reviews, we were kind of hesitant to go, but after going we were very pleased. This place is no disney land clean and orginized, but thats what makes the experience well... Read more

Reviewed by Anthony F.

Came to the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans and found this GEM!! GUARANTEED to see and hold Alligators here (in or out of s. ZZ is so hilarious and made this tour awesome! Boat ride was cool, but his... Read more

Reviewed by Jose P.

The Swamp Tour was totally worth every penny. Zam and his partner were awesome guides. This was one of my high points from visiting Louisiana from California. My kids loved being up close with the... Read more

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• Sun - Sat: 9:30 am - 4:00 pm

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Attraction:

Zam's Swamp Tours

Thibodaux, Louisiana

The town of Kraemer is so small, it had to buy a used drawbridge when its old one collapsed into the Lac des Allemands bayou. This fascinating fact is one of many that you'll learn when you take Zam's Bayou Swamp Tour, one of the better of the dozen-or-so swamp excursions that encircle New Orleans.

Kraemer is out in the middle of nowhere and Zam's is its principal industry. The rickety signs lining Highway 307 trumpet Zam's tours, but most of its money is made wholesaling alligator skulls -- 10,000 last year -- which are then resold by nearly every gift shop in New Orleans. What doesn't go to the big city ends up in Zam's gift shop, filling the walls floor-to-ceiling and stacked on every available flat surface. Even the fences that surround Zam's property are studded with the toothy skulls, drying in the delta sun.

Mr. Zam is of undetermined age and yearns to retire, so he's turned the tour side of the business over his son, "Wild Bill" Tregle. Wild Bill freely admits that he doesn't want this responsibility, but he needs the money to pay for his Corvette, his beer, and his party-hearty lifestyle with his motorcycle gang buddies. Capt. Wild Bill is in his mid-forties but, he reflects, he's in no hurry to grow up.

Since you'll probably be the only person on the tour, Wild Bill feels free to ignore nature and talks instead about his drinking, his run-ins with the police, and his quirky bayou neighbors. This, as it turns out, makes for an entirely satisfactory swamp tour, as there is otherwise very little to spark conversation out here besides basking turtles and an occasional undulating water snake.

"See that shack over there?" Capt. Wild Bill asks, pointing to a shanty half-hidden in the cypress. "No running water. The woman who lives there is ninety-five and she has to shower out of a bucket."

"Why doesn't someone connect her to a water main?"

"You don't want to help that lady. She's a WITCH!"

Wild Bill's tours last an hour, but budget some extra time to tour Zam's "zoo" (where every exhibit ends up in the processing plant) and Edwina's Cookin' Cajun Cafe (whose dishes specialize in skull-less alligators).

To cap off your visit, tip Wild Bill enough to buy a six-pack and he'll drag gators and loggerheads out of their display pits and pose for novelty snapshots. "This turtle is 126 years old and can BITE YOUR LEG OFF!"

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The 11 Best Louisiana Swamp Tours

Spot alligators, birds, deer and more wildlife on these exciting boat tours.

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Don't miss Louisiana's natural beauty during your next visit.

In addition to their famed alligators, Louisiana's swamps and bayous are home to bears, beavers, foxes, nutrias and racoons, as well as dozens of amphibian and reptile species. Moreover, hundreds of birds flitter among the moss-draped cypress trees as numerous types of fish swim below.

After weighing multiple factors, including consumer sentiment and expert opinion, U.S. News determined the following tours are the best options available for travelers curious about this distinctive part of Louisiana's landscape. What's more, many of the tour companies featured below offer transportation between area hotels and their respective swamps. (Keep in mind that certain wildlife species, such as reptiles, may not be visible year-round.)

Note: Some tour providers on this list may be running more limited operations due to COVID-19 or may impose testing or vaccine requirements. Check with your tour operator about availability before you book.

New Orleans: Cajun Encounters – VIP Swamp Tour

Explore the Honey Island Swamp on this small-group excursion. The flat-bottomed boats, which carry up to 10 passengers, have the ability to maneuver narrow waterways, putting travelers within close proximity of the swamp's alligators, bears, river otters and numerous types of birds, including great horned owls and bald eagles. Tour-takers consistently find the boat guides informative and entertaining, and enjoy the array of observable plant and animal life.

Tickets for the two-hour tour cost approximately $90 per person. Tours are available three times daily beginning at 9:30 a.m., 12:15 p.m. and 2:45 p.m. with an additional seasonal tour at 5 p.m. Cajun Encounters, located on the West Pearl River in Slidell, offers pickup service from several New Orleans locations at no additional charge. Another tour using a boat that can accommodate more passengers is also available, along with a sunset swamp tour and packages that combine a swamp tour with a city bus tour or a visit to area plantations.

[View & Book Tickets: Option 1 | Option 2 .]

Breaux Bridge: Champagne's Swamp Tours – Swamp Boat Tour

The Cypress Island Nature Preserve at Lake Martin is home to hundreds of bird species, as well as alligators and other wildlife. This tour provides opportunities to see some of these spectacular creatures up close. Guides regularly win accolades for their knowledge of the local flora and fauna.

Fares start at $25 for participants 12 and older and $15 for those younger than 12. Typically, tours take place several times a day (exact times vary) and last around 60 to 90 minutes. Reservations are required and can be made by contacting the company directly. The Champagne's Swamp Tours storefront in Breaux Bridge, which is approximately 50 miles southwest of Baton Rouge , opens daily at 8 a.m. (excluding some holidays). The company's boats are wheelchair-accessible.

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Marrero: Louisiana Tour Company – New Orleans Swamp Tour by Tour Boat

Glide through the wetlands within the Barataria Preserve aboard a covered boat built for comfort. Along with restrooms and cushioned seats, boats are equipped with guides who will regale you with amusing and informative commentary as you keep your eyes peeled for wildlife and sights like an ancient Native American burial mound and a Cajun fishing village.

If you provide your own transportation to Louisiana Tour Company's location in Marrero (about 20 miles south of New Orleans' French Quarter ), tickets run around $30 for adults and $15 for children 4 to 12. If you opt for hotel pickup service, the tour costs about $50 for adults and $25 for children. (Infants 3 and younger can ride for free.) The approximately 100-minute boat rides start at 9:40 a.m., 12:10 p.m. and 2:10 p.m. daily with a seasonal 4:15 departure time. Pickups start at about 90 minutes prior to start time. In addition to swamp tours, the company also offers plantation and airboat tours, among other options.

[View & Book Tickets: Option 1 | Option 2 | Option 3 .]

Westwego: Ultimate Swamp Adventures – Covered Pontoon Swamp Boat Tour

Cruise Bayou Segnette on this excursion, which lasts nearly two hours and features captains versed in the local culture and habitat. Past participants describe the guides as highly entertaining and enlightening and report seeing many alligators and birds. Tours are offered multiple times a day all year long. They depart at 9:45 a.m., noon and 2 p.m., with an additional 6 p.m. start time in months with sufficient evening sunlight.

Tickets cost approximately $25 for adults and $15 for children 5 to 12. With pickup from New Orleans hotels, the corresponding prices are around $50 and $30. (Accompanied children 4 and younger can tag along at no charge.) Shuttle service begins about an hour prior to designated departure times. The large covered vessels can accommodate up to 68 passengers. Ultimate Swamp Adventures, located in Westwego about 10 miles from New Orleans, also offers airboat tours.

Laplace: Cajun Pride Swamp Tours – Swamp Tour

While parts of Manchac Swamp and some of Cajun Pride's facilities were damaged by Hurricane Ida in 2021, those wishing to learn about Louisiana wetlands can still do so on this tour. Cajun Pride conducts its tours on its private swamp, where no hunting or fishing is permitted, making it well-suited for observing untouched nature. Past tour-takers express enthusiasm about this New Orleans swamp tour , lauding the humorous and insightful guides as well as the ample opportunities for spotting wildlife. Cajun Pride's LaPlace location sits about 25 miles northwest of downtown New Orleans.

Ticket prices depend on whether you provide your own transportation or take advantage of the optional shuttle service. Tours without transportation start at $27 for adults and $16 for children 4 to 12. With pickup service from hotels in New Orleans, Metairie and Kenner, the corresponding costs are about $50 and $25. Throughout the year, 1 ½-tours occur three times daily at 9:30 a.m., noon and 2:15 p.m., with an additional 4:15 p.m. tour from March through October. Hotel pickup starts roughly 90 minutes prior to the standard tour times.

Henderson: Atchafalaya Basin Landing Airboat Swamp Tours – Traditional Swamp Boat Tour

The Atchafalaya Basin has bragging rights as the biggest U.S. river swamp – even bigger than the Florida Everglades . A variety of swamp creatures inhabit its nearly 1 million acres of bayous, swamps and lakes. Tourgoers consistently sing the praises of the striking scenery and the friendly, professional staff. Additionally, by opting for the swamp boat tour, you can ride through even more of the basin than during the company's namesake airboat tours.

The approximately two-hour Traditional Swamp Boat tour is offered daily at 2 p.m. Tickets start at around $40 for adults and $25 for children 10 and younger. The large boat holds up to 24 passengers. Tours aboard airboats welcoming up to 12 riders are offered several times daily, year-round.

Slidell: Dr. Wagner's Honey Island Swamp Tours

Take in the flora and fauna of the 250-square-mile Honey Island Swamp on this two-hour small-boat ride. Tour-takers appreciate the experienced guides' narrative skills as well as the opportunities to see gators, turtles and other animals. Tours take place year-round at 9 and 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. An additional 4:30 p.m. departure is available seasonally. Tours including transportation from New Orleans hotels to the company's Slidell location and back are available for the 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. tours, with pickup starting at 7:45 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., respectively.

Fees start at about $25 for adults and $15 for children 12 and younger. With shuttle service, corresponding costs are approximately $50 and $30.

Henderson: McGee's Louisiana Swamp & Airboat Tours – Swamp Tours

Enjoy an up-close look at the Atchafalaya Basin's unique ecosystem on this 90-minute tour. Reviewers say the tour is well-suited for families with children, and applaud the guides for their insightful and compelling narration. Tours happen three times daily departing at 10 a.m. and 1 and 3 p.m.

start at around $30 for adults and $25 for children 3 to 12 (infants 2 and younger are allowed on board at no charge). In addition to the swamp boat tours (which welcome up to 48 passengers), rides in smaller airboats, as well as seasonal sunset tours, are also available. Henderson, where McGee's is based, is located 45 miles west of Baton Rouge.

New Orleans: New Orleans Kayak Tours – Manchac Swamp Kayak Tour

Many swamp tours rely on motorized boats to navigate Louisiana's waterways, but this tour uses kayaks to explore the peaceful Manchac Swamp. Thanks to the swamp's calm waters, this outing is suitable for paddlers of all experience levels, according to the company. Trip-takers tend to appreciate the guides' educational commentary, as well as the frequent animal sightings. Departure times may vary by season, but start times of 9 and 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. are typical. From March through September, there's an additional 4:30 p.m. departure time.

Tours last about two hours (though longer tours, as well as combo tours, are also available). Prices start at $59 per person; transportation from the French Quarter is available for an additional fee of about $20 per person.

Marrero: Jean Lafitte Swamp Tours – Swamp Airboat Tour

Traverse southern Louisiana's swamps and bayous and the canals connecting them aboard a powerful airboat on this top-rated expedition. Tour-takers generally enjoy both the numerous wildlife sightings and the informed commentary by the guides.

Jean Lafitte Swamp Tours operates multiple airboats; tour prices are determined by the size of the vessel: Tours in the larger boats carrying up to 21 passengers start at $65 per person; trips on smaller boats with capacities of 10 passengers run approximately $85 per person. Transportation between select New Orleans locations and the company's Marrero base is available for an additional fee.

Outings, which last approximately an hour and 45 minutes, occur daily at 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m. and (except in winter) 4 p.m. Hotel pickup starts up to 90 minutes before tour departure times. Note: Children younger than 5 are not permitted on this tour.

Lafitte: Airboat Adventures – Small Boat Tours

This small-group excursion accommodates up to eight passengers and features a multitude of reptiles, birds and other swamp residents. Riders frequently report enjoying the high-speed trips as well as the experienced guides and, of course, the plentiful wildlife on display. Tours last approximately an hour and 45 minutes and occur several times daily. Departures at 9:45 a.m., noon and 2 and 4 p.m. are offered all year.

Prices start at $89 per person; shuttle service between New Orleans hotels and Airboat Adventures' Lafitte location is available for an additional fee of about $20 per person. Note: Airboat passengers must be at least 5 years old. The company also offers tours in its larger airboats and pontoon boats.

You may also be interested in:

• The Best New Orleans Ghost Tours
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Hang Out With Alligators and Tour a Bayou at This Louisiana Gator Farm

Louisiana has long been famous for its alligator filled swamplands. Other than Mardi Gras and the French Quarter, touring the swamps and eating fried gator are incredibly popular tourist activities. Greenwood Gator Farm & Tours lets you get up close and personal with live alligators and learn all about how they came to inhabit the swamps of Louisiana.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Greenwood Gator Farm and Tours (@greenwoodgatorfarmtours)

Greenwood Gator Farm is situated in the small town of Gibson right outside of Houma; this is roughly an hour outside of New Orleans  —  deeper in the bayou. This is a working alligator farm, hatching between 5,000-10,000 gators annually and raising them into adulthood. Visitors get to learn some fascinating facts about all of the real alligators living on the farm. And if you're interested, you can even hold a baby alligator. 

One of the coolest things about Greenwood Gator Farm is they offer real swamp tours through the bayou . You'll get to see gators in their natural habitat during the boat tour and learn about their history in the swampland. You're led by an authentic cajun tour guide, Tim "The Gator Man" Domangue, so you'll definitely be getting some cool facts and stories. Tours leave at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. each day, but they recommend calling ahead to book. Facility tours will talk you through the working farm to learn about alligator farming and the ins and outs of swamp life.

Read More:  This Louisiana Town Lets You Relive 'Steel Magnolias'

Following the tour, the farm has a gift shop that will let you pick up some unique souvenirs to commemorate your visit. 

If your kiddos love gators, consider having a birthday party at the Greenwood Gator Farm. For $200 you can book a party for up to 15 people. This includes an outdoor venue with tables, inflatable and field access. When the kids aren't jumping around the inflatable, you can take them on an educational alligator tour through the facility. The birthday kid even gets a free t-shirt, 1-year membership and a photo with an alligator.

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Have questions? Call 985-804-0744

Facility tours.

Facility Tours include an indoor tour of our display facility. The tour includes historic and current information on alligator farming. Great experience for visitors and locals looking to know more about the swamp life of Louisiana.

Tour times: 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Call in advance

Free bag of feed included with tour fee.

Children 2-10: $12

Adult: $18 Senior/Military: $15

Group Tours

Interested in having a business tour or party with us? Give us a call and we can help you figure out the details to make it happen.

Birthday Parties

Party Times: 10am and 1pm on weekends.

Party Packages include 2.5 hours of pavilion time, bounce house use, and unlimited guests. Feed is sold in the gift shop for the animals if desired. Customer brings own food and drinks. Please call for all party information. 

985-804-0744

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2 Da Swamp Bayou Tours & Museum

Travel Bayou Des Allemands leisurely on a boat ride while listening to Cajun music. Catch live crabs (in season), see 100 year old cypress trees, dugout pirogues, and other unique artifacts of Cajun life. Sunset tours are also available. 

**Please call ahead to book your swamp tour**

More Related Suggestions

Zam's Swamp Tours

This is not your "average" swamp tour and you certainly will not find one like it anywhere else! Sometimes, our usual is unusual and Zam's is no exception. Start off by touring Zam's Ecological park filled with alligators, snapping turtles, nutrias, and more. Then head out into the swamps as your unapologetically Cajun guide tells stories, tricks and tips of what Cajun life is like on the Bayou.

Our Photos @lacajunbayou

Eye of the Alligator at Zam’s Swamp Tours

Picture taken during a swamp tour with Zam’s Swamp Tours. Close up picture of an alligator.

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Suwannee Alligator Snapping Turtle

The Suwannee alligator snapping turtle inhabits the tannin-rich black waters of the Suwannee River, flowing from the headwaters of the Okefenokee Swamp. After decades of hunting, they have struggled to recover because they are slow to mature and reproduce. Today it’s accidental deaths from fishing, nitrate pollution from agriculture, and groundwater withdrawal that put this mighty animal at risk.

Deep in the waters of the Suwannee River basin, the T-Rex of turtles lies in wait. Thick ridges run down the length of his massive, armored shell ending in a tail almost as long as his body. A wedged head supports massive jaws ending in hooked beaks. His mouth agape, a worm-like appendage atop his tongue lures unsuspecting prey. 

Only found in the Suwannee River basin of Georgia and Florida, a golden tint colors the Suwannee alligator snapping turtle while a wide, crescent-shaped notch at the back of its shell distinguishes it from other alligator snapping turtles. Suwannee snappers are nocturnal, and rarely leave the water, nesting females and juveniles occasionally venture overland. Among the largest freshwater turtles in North America, they look fierce, but in the water, they are secretive giants.

Unfortunately, in the late 1960s a fad for turtle soup led to overhunting, and they were almost eaten out of existence. Georgia trapper Al Redmond alone caught10,000 in the Flint River in eight years. Later, he dedicated himself to breeding and releasing them, but the damage had been done.

Georgia prohibited hunting the turtles in 1992 and Florida followed in 2009. The snapping turtles haven’t recovered because of their slow maturation and reproduction rates. Accidental deaths from fishing, hook ingestion, habitat alteration, and nest predation further threaten the animals. Groundwater withdrawal and nitrate pollution from agriculture threaten water levels, quality, and turtles in much of the Suwannee basin.

In 2021, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed listing the turtles as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.

Enter the gator turtle trapping team of Travis Thomas and Kevin Enge, known for their snapper scholarship and exploits.This year marks the duo’s 15 th anniversary of wrangling Suwannee alligator snapping turtles to conserve and protect them.  Thomas caught his first turtle under the guidance of Professor Jerry Johnston, which led him to work with Enge, a wildlife biologist with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Thomas is now a research assistant professor at the University of Florida where he teaches quantitative ecology and wildlife techniques. 

Enge said scientists didn’t know much about Suwannee turtles when they started. Now they do, including population, distribution, and stability of the species. But there is still a lot they don’t know, like the numbers and locations of nesting sites or where the hatchlings live. Enge said the hatchlings probably occupy smaller streams and hide in woody and vegetative cover in shallow water or the floodplains of larger streams where he and Thomas can’t trap them. The trap's mesh is too large to catch turtles until they are at least a couple of years old.

Enge and Thomas monitor six sites in Florida, setting traps in spring, summer, and fall. Over the years they have gathered long-term recapture data to understand growth rates and survival, and to calculate population estimates and trends. 

This helps the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service decide if the turtles require protection under the Endangered Species Act, alerts the agency of threats, and shows the need for habitat improvements.

“The Suwannee River is top-notch for them,” said Thomas. The turtles favor undercut banks and resting in the shallow water among big tree roots and submerged debris. The clean spring-fed water that feeds the river reduces its acidity and provides a plentiful food supply of shellfish, fish, reptiles, and amphibians.

On the river, Thomas typically helms the boat while Enge checks the traps. “Stay out of the way and watch out—they have a bitey end,” said Thomas. He navigates the boat alongside a submerged tree while Enge unties and hauls in the baited hoop nets, carefully extracting the turtles. They work quickly to minimize the stress on the animals. 

Enge has been bitten only once carrying out his duties—a 104-pound snapper, who gave him a bruise that lasted three months. He and Thomas were transporting the animal to his office to measure its bite force when it happened. Strolling by the gate of the pickup truck, the turtle reached through its trap and bit Enge in the hip. “We found out later that it had a bite force of 1000 pounds per square inch, but fortunately, it just nipped me,” he said.

On the sandbank, a welcoming committee of biologists and veterinarians stand by to measure each turtle’s carapace (upper shell) length and width, head width, plastron (belly) and tail length. They also weigh the turtle. Helpers admire the largest male caught that day, weighing in at 127 pounds. Thomas estimated him to be around 60 or 70 years old. “We don’t know how long they live because they outlive the researchers,” he said.

Biologists inject a microchip tag into the tail and drill small holes along the rear edge of the shell, assigning a unique code to identify individuals when they are recaptured. Once processing is over, the workers release the turtle, watching and recording him on phones as he lumbers over the wet sand and glides slowly back into the river and under the water.

Enge is cautiously optimistic about survival prospects for this formidable prehistoric creature. “They are no longer harvested. A lot of the watershed is protected,” he said. Today, their biggest threats are accidental hooking from fishing and groundwater withdrawal decreasing flows in the Suwannee River. Over the years Enge and Thomas have probably caught more than 300 turtles, but it doesn’t get old. “It’s still exciting when we get a big one,” Enge said.

*Editor’s note:   Proposed for listing as a threatened species in 2021, the Service continues to work on the final listing rule for the Suwannee alligator snapping turtle.

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