The Everglades: Alligators!

Finally, here is the reason why I even went to The Everglades in the first place: ALLIGATORS. The American alligator is smaller than its distant cousin, the crocodile, and The Everglades is actually the only place in the world where the two species co-exist. There is reputedly something like a million gators in Florida, and until this morning I was convinced that all of them wanted to kill me.

Now I'm not so sure. They're everywhere in the park, from the biggest beast to the tiniest little baby gator. It's not that I find them cute and fluffy, they're lean, mean killing machines. But the "evil" we see in their reptile eyes is more a function of our own prejudices than the biology of the gator. I witnessed how an alligator took off instead of attacking when it became crowded by people, and though I still can't see how any sane person would "tease" or "molest" them (see this post), I can see how we might annoy the animal inadvertently.

All gator pics here (or here, if you want to see them with the other Everglades pics).

Mah first gator pic.


This one was just sunbathing right by the path from the visitor center. Gators spend most of their time chillaxin', they only eat 1-2 times per week.


A young 'un. They have that same "evil" look as the old ones, but really it's just how most reptile's eyes are.


Pecking order... the big white bird was bullying the smaller, grey one... and both stayed well clear of the alligator (the still, loglike thing center-left in the photo).


Later, on my way out of the park, I saw this little missus lying in a pond by the side of the road.


The female gators will have their offspring with them for up to two years. Not because of feeding, but for protection. The lil' ones are fair game for any large bird, so if you see 'em, mom is generally not far away.


An almost maternal look in her eye.


A child that only a mother could love.


You can only see two in this pic, but there were four baby gators swimming or lying around. Gators like to lie at the opening of the culverts that connect the waterways on each side of the road, because the slight stream brings food right into their mouths.