Up Close and Personal with a Florida Gator
Posted on Wednesday, January 20th, 2010
I’m an Upstate New Yorker and in my neck of the woods – we primarily share our yards with squirrels and deer. While visiting Florida, I was constantly scanning my surroundings because there’s a lizard, exotic-looking bird or some other larger creature around every bend. There’s no need to visit a zoo because it’s an awe-inspiring encounter with wildlife every day. Birds with colorful, large wingspans, skinny legs and elegant steps. Catfish, needlefish, angelfish and zebrafish dancing at the Pier….and gators.
Ever since I was told an alligator was living in the back of a friend’s home in St. Petersburg, Florida, I’ve been determined to take a close picture. The alligator has claimed a small waterway that separates some of the properties in the neighborhood and my first encounter sent him lunging into the murky waters and taking off to the other side. The next day, I was prepared. With camera lens adjusted and quiet steps, I eased over to the bank where he likes to bask in the sun. He was asleep and he looked magnificent. It’s a much different experience than watching Animal Planet when you’re just a few feet away from the real deal.
So….here’s two of my photos of my sleeping alligator friend.
5 Interesting Facts About Alligators
- Two main species of alligators exist – the nearly extinct Chinese alligator (Alligator sinensis) found close to Shanghai and the American alligator (A. mississipiensis), which resides along the coasts of North Carolina to Florida and along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico.
- When an alligator is in water, it uses its tail as a propeller.
- Located just behind the eyes, an alligator’s ears are concealed under flaps. Able to identify sounds from far away, the ears of an alligator equip the creature with a highly acute sense of hearing.
- When the sun sets, alligators use this time to hunt. Young gators feast on shrimp, crayfish, insects and small critters, while the diet of a fully grown alligator consists of birds, snakes, frogs, and at times, smaller mammals.
- During the early 20th century, alligators were known to reach lengths of nearly 20 feet. However, the average size of a present-day alligator is around 9 feet.
