Our American alligator, Newt, is growing up and has been learning to use her natural alligator behaviors. Giving her enrichment items like this tug rope encourages her to investigate, use her powerful jaws to bite and manipulate it, and hone her territorial instincts in a safe way. Want to learn more about Newt and alligator behavior? Come visit our Cypress Swamp exhibit on a Monday or Wednesday at noon for our alligator feeding and keeper talk! Reserve tickets now at: https://thevlm.org/visit/y

more of my story… I was a victim of the troubled teen industry and now I am survivor. I was extremely depressed, suicidal, had an eating disorder, and skipping school because of my depression. although the wilderness was traumatic, it did save me. I was forced to heal and find happiness within myself. when you are stripped of everything, you gain so much power and strength when you survive it. there is so much more to me than skincare… I have gone through so much as a teenager and truly never th