Mike Weedall's Blog

The 1791 community in the Great Dismal Swamp that I wrote about (“Escape To The Maroons”) fought for survival from any number of dangers. Whether the threat of bounty hunters seeking to return individuals to slavery or the swamp’s natural conditions were more dangerous is debatable. Whatever the swamp’s risks, living free made the challenges worth taking on.

One of the questions I get is how Dismal Swamp residents dealt with the alligators. Since travel in that environment often required wading through water, weren’t gators a menace?

In my research, I found conflicting information about the presence of alligators in the Great Dismal Swamp. Some sources indicated the creatures occupied the southern areas of that swamp, while others reported that the conditions were too cold during winter. In the end, I relied upon the Ranger who hosted me at the Great Dismal Refuge. She sided with the sources that stated it was too cold. (Keep in mind that alligators are cold-blooded, and maintaining their body temperature is critical for survival.) The Ranger did add that with climate change warming the planet, alligators are gradually moving north and can now be found in Southern North Carolina. She believes that the current Federal Refuge will have alligators in the future.

So, in 1791, while there were many threats that could easily kill a Great Dismal resident, alligators were not on that list. Snakes petrify most people, and twenty-one different varieties occupy the Great Dismal. Even if only three are poisonous, meeting a water moccasin while wading was, and still is, to be avoided. Black bears, wild boars, wild cattle, and more creatures could also kill in 1791. Then there were accidents that occurred while carrying out day-to-day tasks, such as foraging for food or chopping wood. Don’t forget the swarms of mosquitoes and biting flies that spread disease, such as malaria.

My awe continues to grow when I consider the daily challenges faced in the Great Dismal. Maroons made the ultimate statement of people determined to refuse bondage and live free.