Alligator
Alligator mississippiensis
Alligator is found around Bayou Nwa, one of 1 habitat the compendium records for it.
Everything else that breathes, swims or flies. Habitat and loot are what the compendium asks you to fill in; the three-star carcass is what the trapper asks for.
- Scientific name
- Alligator mississippiensis
- Habitats
- Bayou Nwa
- Carcass yields
- Alligator Skin, Big Game Meat, Alligator Tooth, Alligator Carcass
- Subspecies
- American alligator, American alligator (small)
Player notes
The Alligator is based on the American alligator, Alligator mississippiensis, a large reptile with green scales, a long tail, a broad mouth and raised eyes. It lives in the swamp and river delta country of Bayou Nwa. Regular and small American alligators appear as separate variants, with their own compendium entries, but they are the same species.
An apex predator, the alligator feeds on fish, birds, amphibians and mammals. Its armored body plates make it a dangerous animal at close range, and it can kill a person quickly by gripping their torso in its jaws and throwing them about. Despite its size, rifle fire can pierce its hide and armored plates.
Alligators provide Alligator Skin, Big Game Meat, Alligator Tooth and, from small specimens, an Alligator Carcass. Their skins, meat and teeth are used for food and crafting. A regular alligator's skin occupies the large carcass space on a horse, while a small one's skin can be stacked with other hides and its carcass can be carried. One perfect alligator skin is used for the Alligator Ranch Cutter Saddle at the Trapper.
Trivia
- ◆In Red Dead Online, alligators can be found once in Stillwater Creek when doing a hunting mission for Bonnie MacFarlane which requires the player delivering the pelt to Thieves' Landing after hunting it.
- ◆Alligators will often prioritize attacking Arthur or John over any other NPCs who are in the vicinity.
- ◆Alligators are hostile to all other creatures/characters in the game. It is possible to see the alligators attacking deer and other animals near the shore. However they don't eat it, they just kill it and chill next to it.
- ◆Small alligators, unlike large ones, will flee when the player approaches them.
- ◆Alligators often attack the player when they are in a small rowboat or canoe, and will attempt to overthrow the boat.
- ◆Horses get spooked and will throw off the player if he rides towards a gator or gets too close.
- ◆With a little bit of patience and timing, the player can "surf" on a swimming alligator for a few seconds. But after that it will deathroll and toss him into the water
- ◆Alligators will eat corpses that are thrown into water, however they do not eat other animals.
- ◆When on land, alligators will normally bite the player's leg before performing their kill strike, allowing the player to flee. This only happens in the player walks into the alligator. If the alligator's charge mechanic is initiated, they will instantly kill the player upon catching them.
- ◆Shooting at or near an alligator when they're basking will make them flee towards water. Chasing them while they flee will make them turn around and attack. Shooting them while they're threatening the player will make them attack.
Wildlife
6
Last verified September 14, 2026