The CLAWIGATORS
AKA THE CRawlie CRAWLIGATORS, CrawlyGators, CrawlieGators, CRAWDAGATORS, CRAWDIGATORS, YabbieCROCs, & MUDdygators
OUR FUN AND CRAZY SWAMP CRITTERS ARE MUTATIONS - A MIX OF CRAWfish & GATOR or crocs - AND THEY ARE PUPPETS!
A WORLD WIDE PHENOMENON - FIRST DISCOVERED IN A LOUISIANA SWAMP
from Jess Nelson's novel "Sorcerer's swamp"
JOHN BRYAN THE SWAMP CRAWLIGATOR STORYTELLER
The GREEN, PINK, BLUE and Yellow CRAWLIES HAVE ARRIVED
VISIT OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL FOR MUSIC SHORTS AND MORE VIDEOS
The CRAWLIE LIMITED EDITION soft PLUSH TOYS CAN BE purchased NOW at: ebay Crawlies
Four Generations of swamp Crawligator Puppet Maquettes: John Bryan, (JB) The Storyteller, Lily Claire Swampson, studious teenager, Payne Mountebank, child beauty queen, and The Crawlie Swamp Critter
"Sorcerer's Swamp" by Jess Nelson is the #1 Novel in a series of three Novels featuring the Crawlies ! buy ebooks, paperback and hardcover books here: barnes & noble or Amazon
The CrAWlIE Crawligators are from The 1994 Crawligator Tale
A Tale From New Orleans, LA
May 1, 1994
Jess and Carol Nelson with friends Dennis and Leslie DeShazer were visiting the Spring Jazz Festival in NOLA when Jess discovered a delicious Etouffe dish, made with crawfish and alligator meat. After a few beers that evening, he came up with a drawing on a napkin of a half Crawfish and half Alligator creature. He called the swamp critter a "Crawligator" and wrote a tale about the little clawed gator thing! The friends had a good laugh! Today, for our fans and followers, we renamed our swamp critters "The Clawigators". They are also known as Crawligators, Crawlygators, Crawliegators, Crawlies, Crawdagators, and Crawdigators. You can call them anything you want... cute, mad or ugly!
The Original Crawligators Tale was written over 30 years ago by Jess Nelson Here's the 2024 updated version: "The Crawligators" (AKA Clawigators)New Orleans, LA - Not too far from the Mississippi river, an incredible discovery was made. Two scientists from BU (Bog University) in St. Mathieu Parish were searching for DNA mutations in the waters of a nearby swamp. They were testing for frog, crustacean and swamp hybrid speciations (a form of speciation where hybridization occurs). Dr. Rosie La Roux and Dr. Willie O'Canhee made a huge discovery. They found a colony of an entirely new species that resembled Crawfish and Alligators! They were bigger than those small crustaceans, but smaller than young gators... about the size of a PoBoy! The critters were of various patterns and colors, but mostly pink and green. The professors were very excited about this phenomena and launched a research team into the swamp to look for more of them. Drs. Rosie and Willie, while attempting to catch them, also wondered how they tasted. All this exciting work made them very hungry! "They are so elusive", said Dr. Willie, "And also very quick! We had to trick 'em to catch 'em".
The research team found that by playing loud Zydeco music underwater, they came out of hiding and swarmed like bees. They swam in circles, clicking their claws and snapping their jaws! While in this frenzied state, they also became agitated. With their teeth and claws, they shredded all the teams nets. The capture team discovered that if they poured Abita Amber beer into the water. the beverage tranquilized the little buggers. The team went through barrels of beer.
After months of stompin' and beatin' around in the mud, O'Canhee and La Roux located a hot juicy breeding pair. The two professors got married, too! They set up a Crawligator farm near Beaux Bridge, Louisiana. Crawligator meat became a culinary sensation, and the critter's hides became fashion neccessities!
Here is Rosie's favorite recipe for Crawligator Pie: One pound of Crawlie (Crawligator), two large Red Peppers, Two finely chopped celery sticks, one chopped Onion, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp Paprica, 1/2 cup of Mayonaise. Combine all ingrediants and place in a pie shell. Bake one hour, and drink beer one hour. Remember "Eat the tails, Don't suck the heads...They Bite"! You might slow down on the beer. But, for sure, “Laissez les bons temps rouler!” (Let the good times roll)
.jpg "Clawigator Pie Album Art")
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the Fine Art, Music and writings on our site are original works by Artist, Sculptor, and Production Designer Jess Nelson. They are the Copyrighted intellectual property of Jess Nelson Studios
Jess Nelson, Ray Henry and Charles Bailey are Television Art Department Professionals. They were members of the original art department for the PBS children's progam "Barney and Friends"! This team helped create "Barney and the Backyard Gang" videos and other national TV and feature film productions. Many other seasoned television professionals have joined the Clawigator team and more talent will be joining our production, soon.
Our photo below is an original mockup mural painting of a backing (background) that Jess and Ray will paint. It will hang behind the puppet stage that is being built by Charles! The Swamp Stilt Shack Clawigator Village is a Jess Nelson Studios design. Pre production is underway!
.jpg "Crawligator Swamp Village hidden in a Louisiana Swamp")
ZYDECO SATURDAYS when CLawigators and Crawligators jump in their skiffs and go listen to all the Porch Bands Jam!
Listen and view over 30 Musical Video Shorts on our YouTube Channel
Clawigators Care about the Loss of our THREATened WETLANDS
GroundBreaking Events
Tale of the Crawligator
The Original Tale of the Crawligators in NOLA
MAY 1994
FACEBOOK Start
First Media Site presentation of "The Crawligators"
DEC 2023
1000+ Fans and Followers
Fabulous fan following and growth in Social Media
AUG 2024
CLAWIgator STart
WORLD WIDE WEB Clawigators on all media sites
AUG 2024
CrawlIE PLUSH RELEASE
First Four Colors - Crawlie Plush Dolls Available
MARCH 2025