Alligators eat a wide variety of foods including insects, crabs, crayfish, fish, frogs, snails, turtles, snakes, coots, grebes, wading birds, raccoons, otters, deer, and other alligators. Alligators are also known to eat dead animals. Although alligators are carnivorous, they are occasionally seen uprooting vegetation. Evidently they do not eat the plant material, and may be catching crayfish, snails, and insects living in the mud at the bases of the plants. Alligators feed most often when temperatures are between 73-90°F (20-23°C).

If prey is small, it may be swallowed whole. Otherwise the gator will bite down on it repeatedly. Using a combination of sharp teeth and tremendously strong jaw muscles, it breaks bones or shells so the whole item can be swallowed. Large prey may also be shaken vigorously and slapped against the water or shore to rip off swallowing-sized pieces.

Alligators role underwater with very large prey, submerging the victim and drowning it. The dead prey is dragged around or guarded for several days until the meat rots enough to be ripped apart.