Cypress Island Preserve supports many alligators, including some of the largest in Louisiana. Between March and October, alligators up to 10-15 feet long may be seen along the western edge of Lake Martin. They feed on a wide variety of animals, including fish, birds, turtles, frogs, snakes, and nutria. Courtship and mating occur in April and May, and nest building and egg laying occur from late May through early July. About 40 eggs are laid in a large nest made from vegetation and mud, and heat from the rotting vegetation incubates the eggs. In August and September, the young hatch and seek cover along the water's edge. Baby alligators are about 9 inches long and are protected by the mother through the first winter, making the alligator one of the few reptile species that cares for its young.