Challenge: The alligator, rather than the bald eagle, becomes the symbol of America

How could the alligator, rather than the bald eagle, become the national animal of the United States, depicted on its seal?

Potential obstacles to this idea:
- Alligators only live in the South. But the lion is still the symbol of England despite not living there at all, so it could still work.
- They're dangerous, and not particularly "noble" animals in their hunting strategy. Though that didn't stop the wolf from being the symbol of Rome.
- They're hunted for food.

Potential advantages:
- Alligators are unique to the US.
- Eagles are already the symbols of Russia, Prussia, the Holy Roman Empire, and Austria.
- Another reptile, the rattlesnake, was used to represent America ("Don't Tread On Me") before the eagle was adopted.
- The Welsh, traditionally rivals of the English, used the Welsh dragon, yet another reptile. So reptiles aren't totally unheard of in heraldry.
 
Could the Royalist troops have started calling the Revolutionaries 'alligators' as an insult, (from their methods of fighting etc) and the Continentals have taken it up and made it a point of pride?
 
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