Don't Get Eaten by an Alligator

Posted by Linda J Bottjer Jan 11, 2008

I live off a very small man made canal. Recently a canoe with a couple and two young children paddled by. I noticed the kids (approximately 2 and 3 years of age) were not wearing life jackets, had their little hands slapping the water's surface and the family was heading directly for alligators' (3 in total) den.

I advised them of their approach to possible disaster, and was rewarded with looks of disdain (like I was the village idiot waving on the side of the road) and a halfhearted "thanks".

The slapping of water is like a dinner bell to gators. They hope to find an animal in distress, and lend a helping jaw.

The intrepid, yet stupid (counting the adults only) family paddled down the narrow right fork.

Within minutes I saw the baby of the gator trio cruising the canal. Baby is now close to 6' in length. With his instincts revved up, he hid among the shore's foliage and readied himself for an attack.

The canoe reappeared. Once again tiny fingers flicked the water.

And Baby?

His sinister scaly snout had disappeared under the waterline.

"Get those hands inside the canoe," I screamed.

The parents barely acknowledged my calls of warning.

In frustration I yelled "Will you be able to call 911 after the gator leaps up snatches your baby? A large man was killed here (a few canals away) last year. Your children would be just an appetizer."

Suddenly little hands and arms were yanked in, and paddling went into overdrive.

Baby resurfaced and shot me a nasty look at his missed meal.

My point is - wear life jackets, learn the local rules of nature and respect them.

Linda, Protector of the Incredibly Ignorant, cannot be everywhere!