Practice
Passage #3: Alligator Nests*
A female alligator builds her nest in early April. First, she
uses her body and tail to clear an area that is sheltered and near water.
Second, she uses her jaws to find vegetation like grass, leaves, sticks, and
dirt. After this, she builds a mound and digs a hole in it with her back legs.
The nest is finished.
Next the female alligator lays 20–70 eggs. Then she covers
the eggs with the vegetation to keep them warm. The eggs are buried three to fourteen inches
deep in the nest. During this time, the alligator protects her nest from
predators such as raccoons, opossums, and skunks, and, of course, from any humans that might come around. Never go near an alligator’s
nest!
After 65–70 days, the eggs begin to hatch. Then the new
babies make a sound called “yerping,” and the female alligator opens the nest.
Finally, the alligator helps some of the babies out of the eggs by rolling the
eggs in her mouth. Some baby alligators stay near the nest for about 2 years. Who would have thought that alligators are such devoted mothers?
