Ohhhhh, we
have some gators,
There's just not that many around me within 5 to 10 miles. There used to be a couple across the street, but overall not that many. However, we do see an increase in numbers during mating season. There was a 10 foot bull gator that washed up on shore next door to me a few years back. If I had to guess, I think he probably died of lead poisoning... People with little kids and pets, get kind of funny when they see something that big with teeth cruising up and down basically in their back yards.
I have to tell you, they really don't care if it's salt, brackish or fresh water either. I know I used to think otherwise, but know better now.
15 miles to the north we have a wild life refuge, where fishing is allowed but no motor boats. (actually it's part of the Cape) It was there one of other dads in my sons Scout troop was stalked by a gator in his yak. He saw it on the surface, but lost siight of it. Later when he was sitting still casting his line, he looked down through the water and noticed he was being 'watched'...
There's a ton of them up there, all different sizes, with plenty to eat. Seeing a 10 to 12 foot gator is not uncommon at all. Hell, last week I almost ran a 6 footer over when I was driving home from work. It was dark out, and he blended in to the road quite nicely. Fortunately for me, he was stretched across the other lane, otherwise it could have ended up being a really bad night.
You see some weird, unbelievable things up there. Near one of the Pads on the Space Center there's a drainage culvert under a road that connects between the marshes. In that culvert was a gator that was blocking the path of a manatee. The manatee goes up and bumps the gator snout to snout. The gator moved in to the open water, but he was pissed! I don't kow if you've ever seen one vibrate in the water (for the lack of a better term), but the water on their backs literally dances when they do it. Totally bizarre. This is a true story...I'm not making it up!! I swear!!
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