How many Gators do you see? - Orchid Board

flhiker · #1 05-17-2008, 12:39 AM

, I went to Shark Valley Everglades National Park and as I was heading up to the Observation tower I notice a couple gators in the shallow pond. How many do you see?

YouTube - How many gators do you see?

Swamper · #2 05-17-2008, 10:34 AM

very cool video, things went crazy for a minute there huh. I gotta download the video I have of Mike chasing after the gator, pretty funny.

cb977 · #3 05-17-2008, 10:49 AM

I'll take my gators on the other side of a nice fence, thank you very much

Went to the Homosassa Wildlife State park yesterday and saw these guys:

gmdiaz · #4 05-17-2008, 12:18 PM

I believe this is why I will not be going swimming in Florida, anytime soon.

Swamper · #5 05-17-2008, 12:30 PM

Gwen, it's not so much the swimming they mind, it's more the bumping into them or walking up to them unexpectedly and startling them that they seem to get really grouchy about. Usually they run away from you. However in a big group situation like the one in Dave's video I would be running faster. In fact I think I noticed the cameraman taking a couple of steps back ready to flee. LOL

gmdiaz · #6 05-17-2008, 12:43 PM

Yeah, maybe they wouldn't bite me if I were swimming over them.

There is no point in crowding anybody. . .making anyone jumpy. I am happy to leave them their personal, or in the case, group space.

Excellent photography work, there Dave!

flhiker · #7 05-17-2008, 01:29 PM

Thanks guys, I was about 4ft from the edge of the water and when they started going in every direction I expected one to come up the side so I did take a couple steps backward.

Joes right our gators are pretty lazy.

What was weird is there is plenty of deeper water very near where all of these gators gathered. I'm not sure why they decided to group up in this mud pit.

Anyway looking to the SE from the tower there were a line of fire about 15 miles away and the smoke traveled into Broward county in the early AM.

flhiker · #8 05-17-2008, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cb977

I'll take my gators on the other side of a nice fence, thank you very much

Went to the Homosassa Wildlife State park yesterday and saw these guys:

Awesome I have never been to that state park Yet!! What else did they have to offer there?

GreggC · #9 05-17-2008, 04:45 PM

wake up grouchy. I just let her sleep.

cb977 · #10 05-17-2008, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flhiker

Awesome I have never been to that state park Yet!! What else did they have to offer there?

It's a nice little place...not overwhelming and not very expensive. I hate when I see the admission costs of some of the parks down here...how the heck can a family afford to bring their kids out for a day?

You can access this park through the main entrance on US 19 and take a boat ride through the Springs to get to the park entrance. They have manatees (of course

) lots of different birds, cougar, bobcat, reptiles, gators and more...and Lucifer (Lou, to his friends)...he's a 6000 lb hippo who was in the Tarzan movies. When the park first opened, it held lots of exotic animals. Then the state took over and decided that it would house only Florida native animals...and Lou was made an official citizen so he could stay because there was no place for him to go

All the animals in the park were either injured or abandoned and they are now cared for by a large group of volunteers.

I love it there, we've gone a few times and will keep going back

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