Several days ago, a gentleman told me that there had been a small alligator living in the pond down the road. I was excited to hear this. I love to see wildlife thriving and people coexisting with wildlife. In my mind, it’s a win-win situation. Instead, he told me that he had called wildlife officials to hopefully relocate the alligator. They never responded, according to him. I told him that reptiles often return “home” if moved, unless greater distance or other factors result in the animal staying at its new location. I also explained that gators are shy and naturally fear people, so if left alone, they pose little to no threat. If people avoid nests and waters’ edge, all should be fine. He said he was worried that some unattended kid or animal would be in danger. I replied that therein lies the problem. I believe in supervising kids and pets! (Not just in wildlife habitats!). He proceeded to tell me that he threw rocks at the gator every time he saw it. He hasn’t seen it lately, and he is hoping it moved on. With neighbors like that, I hope it has, too. I hope to change mindsets of people who fear gators too much. I also hope to change viewpoints of people who don’t fear and respect them enough. They were here before we moved in. I feel we must find a way to peacefully and successfully coexist! Let them do their thing, keeping ecosystems in balance. Don’t try and get rid of them, and don’t try to make them your pets. Just appreciate them as part of your surroundings. Be smart, considerate, and safe. Think about the big picture—a greater time and space than just you occupy. Nature is not ours to control. I believe we must be good stewards of our world. Thanks for reading this and considering these points. Maybe we can improve our world.
On a recent impromptu stop at the gator pond, we discovered that someone had illegally dumped a table into the pond, right on an alligator’s favorite basking spot. Someone had also defaced a sign. Needless to say, we were disappointed and disgusted! There was no sign of the resident gator, Beau/Popeye, which may have been due to the table or the cooler temps. We contacted Alligator Alliance and began to brainstorm possible solutions. If a person could get the table out, as a part of Alligator Alliance’s Adopt-A-Highway participation, the table could be properly disposed of. With a rope and lasso skills, from the side of the road, the table was dragged safely out of the pond. The graffiti was also wiped from the sign. Woohoo! As warmer days approach, our favorite gator will once again have his comfy basking spot again. We hope that we can take a step toward preventing illegal dumping, especially in wild habitats like this one. Education, information, and attention may change people’s mindset and stop them from dumping and littering. That will make us and the gators very happy! Driving past a pond one day with my family, I noticed how pretty the sunset was over the water and lily pads. We stopped, so I could get out and take a photo. I nearly stepped on a gator! I stopped and kept my foot above the ground, and then I slowly backed away. The magnificent beast paid me no mind. It was at that moment that I learned this:
Where we live, at any given pond or body of water, there is probably an alligator hiding out, carefully camouflaged, doing his or her alligator thing! I was thankful to walk away with my foot and life that day. I was also thankful to have been allowed into the presence of such a great predator. Since that day, I have been blessed by other encounters with alligators. Perhaps they sense my spirit of respect and admiration. Maybe they know I mean them no harm. We can occupy the same area and go on living our best lives. I often tell visitors and people new to the area about what I’ve learned from gators. If people are aware, and if they take reasonable precautions with their pets, children, trash, and selves, then we can all coexist and thrive. The habitats where gators typically live depend on them to keep the ecosystem in balance—so other species of plants and animals can live, healthy and well. It is a win-win for all, if we can co-exist! As far back as I can remember, I have longed to be close to nature. When I was a little girl, my parents and I would walk through the woods behind our home. We would follow trails through the trees, cross a little brook, and pick blackberries. I also remember sitting in the yard with my cat just enjoying being near one of God’s creatures in the sun. Throughout my life, anytime I was outdoors, walking in the woods or along the shore, or with animals, I felt more at peace. This is still true for me today.
When life becomes stressful and difficult, I find my peace outside. Whether it is day or night, warm or cold, sunny or rainy, it is just a peaceful place for me. I also feel closer to God outdoors. It is easier to pray. I look up at the clouds or the stars, and I feel a connection. The same is true for my angels. I have lost loved ones including my sister and best friend, my grandparents, my best friend in college, and more. Sometimes when I am outside, I feel like I can speak to their spirits in Heaven and they hear me. I also believe that our loved ones send signs of their love and messages of hello from Above through nature. It might be a ray of sunlight, a rainbow, or the call of a hawk. Many people believe that a cardinal is a visit from a departed loved one. Regardless, the sign is usually profound and unmistakable—you just know. It leaves me with a warm and comforting feeling of being loved and reassured that everything is and will be all right. Recently I have been wanting to create a space in our yard where I can be alone and with nature and experience some peace, a place to pray. Today I finally made that place. I took a piece of a large tree that had fallen during a hurricane onto our fence. I set it up as a small seat. I can sit beneath the live oak and magnolia trees next to our azaleas and be surrounded by the scent of foliage, dried leaves on the ground, and the sound of birds’ wings above and squirrels’ chatter. I am so looking forward to using the space. It does not require me to drive anywhere in particular. It will always be there for me, just outside my door. After time in nature, I always feel refreshed. Encountering wildlife invigorates my senses. Once, while walking on a swampy trail with my husband Rich, we saw bear tracks and a large beaver! The beaver paid us no mind. We froze in our tracks, not wanting to disturb him, and knowing that they can be aggressive when they feel threatened. We were like two little kids—excited for the rest of the day! I felt the same way the first time I encountered an alligator in the wild. I nearly stepped on him! I later learned that this was Mojo, and that Lisa and John of Alligator Alliance knew him quite well. It was after that first encounter that Rich and I came to pick up trash in Mojo’s habitat whenever we could. I remember seeing John and Lisa’s Adopt a Highway sign not too far from there. I thought, “ How wonderful!” And then the day came that we met! Rich and I were checking on another gator, Beau, and picking up trash. Lisa and I instantly connected! Since then, I’ve learned a lot about alligators and have been blessed with new friends—Beau, Lisa, John, and now Kathy! I want all people to experience the magic of the outdoors. I want them to care about preserving wild places. We depend on the existence of wild ecosystems for the very air we breathe and so much more. Beyond the physical needs, I feel the wilds fulfill some of our spiritual and emotional needs, too. Maybe that’s why I’m so passionate about preserving and conserving wildlife. It is a big part of me. I don’t think that longing to be close to nature will ever leave me! I’m fine with that! |