The Eye of a Killer

by | Feb 4, 2013

Every once in a while I go through my old images and find one I can’t believe I missed….. but better late than never! Check out this juvenile alligator, it’s got the eyes of a killer!

Juvenile Alligator

American Alligator 

~ click to enlarge ~

In some parts of the Fakahatchee Strand in the northwestern Florida Everglades, it is very common to wade into areas heavily populated with alligators – especially if there are floating logs with plenty of sunshine for them to bask in. I managed to get quite close to this juvenile. While alert, it stayed calm as long as I moved slowly and stayed low in the water with it.

This little gator was about one meter (three feet) in length and was going into into its third year. Still somewhat mottled with faded bands of yellow, it has already beaten the odds and survived the most dangerous years of its life. No longer hunted by herons, storks, or raccoons – it now has to keep a wary eye out for other alligators and invasive Burmese pythons.

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3 Comments

  1. Cindy

    Ha! As long as you stayed in the water with it.. Aren’t you glad you’re in the Pacific North West.. Oh wait ..bears 😉

    Reply
    • RichLeighton

      I am as comfortable with alligators as most people are with hamsters. Grizzlies scare the bejesus out of me!

      Reply
      • Geoff Thomas

        Just like when I go out- “aren’t you scared of the gators??’
        ‘NOPE- it’s the dang snakes that keep me “on my toes!!!”

        Though i STILL haven’t come across mny snakes, I run into silly little (and sometimes HUGE!) gators a LOT!

        Reply

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