Alligators could be seen easily throughout the weeks of the historic Mississippi River flood, but only six incidents of the reptiles on flooded highways or coming close to people or property in the state’s 14 flood disaster counties were reported to the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, a top expert with the agency said.

Agents fired no shots at the reptiles, which posed no threat to life or property, said Ricky Flynt, MDWFP alligator program coordinator.

Gators, deer, snakes and wild boars were spotted in and around the water’s edge during the flood.

“As far as reports of problem gators,” Warren County Sheriff Martin Pace said, “we haven’t received one call throughout the flood.

“Don’t get me wrong,” he said. “We saw them on a daily basis but they were already there. Alligators are plentiful in Warren County, and they had to move in closer than they usually are.”

Thoughout the flooding that began in late April, about 100 state wildlife conservation agents fanned out along the state’s affected areas to patrol levees, flooded streams and to enforce boating restrictions in effect during the Mississippi River’s peak stages.

Agents assisted local law enforcement and federal entities in handling reports of gators and the feral hogs, which can be hunted year-round without firearm restrictions. No records are kept on totals when boars are shot by agents.

“If you see a gator crossing the highway, simply keep your distance,” Flynt said. “They usually continue on going wherever they were going.”

And Pace pointed out, “By nature, alligators are afraid of humans and will make every effort to get away.”