First encounter with a gator

On 12/13/2016 at 9:44 PM, geo g said:

We often see a hundred of them in the wild, on Alligator Alley during the dry season.  They are there because the swamp is drying up, and they come in all sizes up to ten feet.  Fishing is like herding cattle with the boat pushing at least ten of them ahead of the boat.  They usually stay about 20 yards ahead of the boat in the canal..  95% of the time your not going to have a problem.  The last few years a few have become more territorial and have put on some displays.  I've had them hit the trolling motor with their nose, and tail slap the side of the boat.  But this is rare even in the confines of the canal.   Never, ever,  feed a gator, they will learn that two legged creatures mean an easy meal.  FWO have removed several from ramp areas that were causing problems because tourists were feeding the lizards so they could get a closer picture at the ramps..  We don't need a 800 pound dinosaur that can vault 6 feet out of the water, with no fear of people.  Its not their fault, its just people without common sense.

 

Its also a healthy state fine for feeding gators in the wild, for this very reason!

Geo summed it up

Though I've encountered hundreds of them, I still marvel at the beauty of every gator.

In the recent past I've photographed sunning gators from a drifting boat (drifting toward the gator).

I've gotten so close at times, that they're departing splash hit my camera.

Provided you never feed or provoke a gator, you have little to fear (gators have fear too).

Alligators are only guilty of being born alligators, it's people we need to train 

Roger