I also heard somebody say they are occasionally found in Jasper County. I live outside Atlanta and sometimes I worry about swamps near our house, where it sure seems like a good place for a gator. gulp.

There have been spottings of alligators in the Chattahoochee river in Atlanta multiple times.

The DNR and fisheries people believe they are pets that have been released and not a naturally reproducing population.

here is information on the American alligator, with a range map showing they occur as far north as coastal North Carolina

http://www.uga.edu/srelherp/alligators/allmis.htm

This site states they occur as far north as the North Carolina-Virginia border, and to Texas.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/s ... ensis.html

this one agrees
http://www.nhptv.org/NatureWorks/americanalligator.htm

Here is another link for you
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Alligator#Habitat