Big Gators and Little Gators
There are roughly 1.25 million alligators living in Florida.
If you’re out exploring nature for wildlife in south/southwest Florida, you’re going to see alligators lurking in the wild.
Alligator – “Swamp Skimming”
Alligator – “Big Boy” or “Voluptuous Gal”
Alligator – “Toothy Grin”
Alligator – “I think I’ve outgrown my log couch”
A different day, I found three juvenile alligators sunning in the early afternoon. They were about two feet long.
Little Alligators – see all three?
I spotted Momma Alligator hiding across the swamp about 60-70 feet away…..just her eyes above the water…..looking my way.
I couldn’t get a decent photo of her from where I was standing and decided it wasn’t a good idea to hang around for one.
I looked back at the juveniles and snapped a couple more shots, as they went on with their afternoon nap.
Those little alligators knew they were safe. 😉
Juvenile Alligator – “Snoozin’ with a smile”
— Adult alligator photos taken at Big Cypress Swamp National Preserve
— Juvenile alligator photos taken at Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park
Amazing shots Donna! you look to be fairly close, are they a threat when walking about there?
Thank you, Ashley! I was using my 70-200mm & 1.7x teleconverter, then did some cropping on all photos. So these weren’t any threat to me; but there are signs advising beware of alligators,panthers, and bears along roads and park entrances. Good gosh, you can take swamp tours and wade/walk through swamps! 😲 I don’t think so! LOL
I bet you, they were thinking, ~ Who’s that delicious photographer? ~ Great shots, Donna. 🙂
Thank you, HJ, they probably were! 😅
You were walking? I would be so nervous-were you? They are beautiful and you have some great shots. Between sharks and alligators I think I would be swimming in an indoor pool in the south. My Dad used to golf in Florida and Myrtle beach and some fairways had alligators in them, so he jokingly said he lost a ball in one of those ponds and went to retrieve it and changed his mind.
Thank you, Jane. I was walking along a road for the adult gators, and on a park trail for the little ones. My goodness, they have guided park trail tours, some that go walking/wading through parts of the swamp. 😲 I could never do that in a million years lol.
These are great pictures, Donna! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you, Susan!
Amazing photos, Donna. They all look so close. 😳
Thank you, Sylvia, they were all at a safe distance, across the swamp. 🙂
Neat sightings! I was hoping to see the resident alligator in the pond down the street from my Mom’s house when I visited her last year in FL, but no joy. Maybe next visit. I’ll enjoy your images in the meantime. 😀
Thank you, Deborah! 🙂
Amazing pictures of these critters!! I like the smile of the young one, Donna! 🙂
Thank you, Indira! I too thought the smiling little one looked adorable and less menacing with it’s eyes closed. 🙂
The difference between our countries, the most dangerous creature you get over here is probably a snail that has woke up with a bad hangover!
😅 😂 😉
Your photos captured the beauty, mystery, and edginess of the alligators, Donna — really wonderful. I especially like that little fella at the end, smiling while s/he slept. You have honed your photography skill when you can make an alligator look adorable.
Thank you, Jet! I thought too, how adorable the little one appeared with its eyes closed, it shows how their eyes are indeed a big part of their menacing look. 🙂
😊🐊
Thank you!
Glad I spotted this in my email, posts not coming through in reader. That said… ! Great you got the Gators. When it’s a slow day you can always count on them for some good photo ops 😀. Nicely done.
Thank you, Ted! There’s quite a few of yours’ cousins here. 🙂
Down here if you have a puddle…be careful.
Amazing 😍
Thank you!
I am very happy to have you take the alligator pictures for me! I would be nervous even at a distance.
I am happy to oblige! From a safe distance myself!! 🙂
Shivers! Scared and fascinated all at once. 🙂
That’s what alligators will do to you, even at a distance! 😉 Thanks Eliza!
An amazing set of photos. I almost felt as though I was there with you. Brilliant!
Thank you! It’s pretty amazing to see alligators ‘dotting’ the swamps. I certainly respect them and their territory! 🙂
Very nice series of alligator images Donna! They are fun to photograph as long as you do not get too close!!
Thank you, Reed, yes safety is in distance!! 🙂
They know that their Mama has their back. Brave Donna, I’d run. … Even if they were across the swamp.
Thank you Kavitha, I am definitely keeping my distance with them! 🙂
Boy, they grow big 😏. Very nice!
Thank you, Belinda! They sure do!
Funny, I was just talking today about how prevalent alligators are with some visitors who are here on their first visit to Florida.
Florida sure does have a bunch of them. 🙂
Hello again Donna,
I had read how Florida is “famous” for its alligators. They look like dinosaurs…
The little alligators are very cute, and of course I would never disturb them 😀
Thank you Takami! They do look prehistoric. I think we all would leave those little ones to their nap. 😀