BEau Bellowing
HE FINALLY DID IT!
After knowing this gator for nearly 13 years and hoping every Spring that I’d get the chance to see Beau (AKA Popeye) bellow, he finally did it on May 4th. To say that I was completely overcome with joy is putting it mildly! Sometimes you just have to be in the right place at the right time and that was definitely our time. We were prepared and ready to roll the video on a moment’s notice and he did not let us down. I was thrilled to have my fellow gator whisperer and one of Alligator Alliance’s newest members by my side, Kathy Sykes. Hazel Mae (our official mascot) was safely in the back seat of the truck. We held our breath and stood by quietly as Beau locked eyes with JC and started bellowing for his girlfriend Olive Oil. If you listen all the way to the end of the video you will hear Kathy and I laughing in pure joy and you will hear me saying that my bucket list is complete! Even though this video is less than a minute long it is truly the best wildlife moment that I have ever witnessed!
Video by Kathy Sykes
INTRODUCING OZZY
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Photos by Kathy Sykes
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This handsome boy was first sighted last year by our Local Advisor/Photographer Kathy Sykes. Due to the recent unseasonably warm temps Kathy paid Ozzy's habitat a visit & she was thrilled to see that this little guy had made it through another Winter. Kathy is a "Gator Whisperer" & she quickly started working her magic. She stayed a safe distance away, made herself small (less intimidating) & started quietly talking to Ozzy. Soon, he was under her spell. He allowed her into his realm & became her willing model. Ozzy is a subadult, but don't let his size fool you. Smaller gators are extremely fast! Even though they can't gobble you down in one bite, they can still attack you. Those little teeth can sever a finger, toe, or maybe even your hand or foot. No matter what the size of the gator, PLEASE use extreme caution & stay away from them! The days are only going to get warmer as we head into Spring. That means alligators will be coming out of brumation. They'll be looking for food, looking for mates & looking to establish new habitats. It is our favorite time of year! We want everyone to be safe! That means keeping yourself as well as your kids & pets away from gators. Remember, ANY body of water has the potential to have a gator in it! And if you want to see a photo of an alligator, look no further! Kathy Sykes is an amazing photographer & she knows exactly what it takes to capture stunning photos of our resident Swamp Dragons!
This handsome boy was first sighted last year by our Local Advisor/Photographer Kathy Sykes. Due to the recent unseasonably warm temps Kathy paid Ozzy's habitat a visit & she was thrilled to see that this little guy had made it through another Winter. Kathy is a "Gator Whisperer" & she quickly started working her magic. She stayed a safe distance away, made herself small (less intimidating) & started quietly talking to Ozzy. Soon, he was under her spell. He allowed her into his realm & became her willing model. Ozzy is a subadult, but don't let his size fool you. Smaller gators are extremely fast! Even though they can't gobble you down in one bite, they can still attack you. Those little teeth can sever a finger, toe, or maybe even your hand or foot. No matter what the size of the gator, PLEASE use extreme caution & stay away from them! The days are only going to get warmer as we head into Spring. That means alligators will be coming out of brumation. They'll be looking for food, looking for mates & looking to establish new habitats. It is our favorite time of year! We want everyone to be safe! That means keeping yourself as well as your kids & pets away from gators. Remember, ANY body of water has the potential to have a gator in it! And if you want to see a photo of an alligator, look no further! Kathy Sykes is an amazing photographer & she knows exactly what it takes to capture stunning photos of our resident Swamp Dragons!
update on ozzy
Kathy keeps a check on our newest gator. She was on patrol the other day and this little gator showed that they can be protective of their territory! The video that Kathy captured displays one of the behavior's that we can watch for when coexisting with our wild neighbors.
Just when we think Kathy Sykes couldn't take a better picture, she literally pulls one out of the clouds!
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I'm Always on the Lookout for My Gators . Sometimes they appear in the Skies rather than the Waters ... Oh Happy Day!
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