ALLIGATOR YOGA

It's hard to believe it but I went over a month without Spotting my Baby Cyclops Gator. So I took a short trek pond side and found her in all her glory soaking up that life giving Spring Sun. I always speak to her the same phrases in the same quiet tones when I approach her. She raised her head in recognition but resumed her Basking as soon as she realized I offered no threat. She seemed to be practicing some sort of ancient Alligator Yoga ritual exposing different areas of her body to the Solar Energy offered free for the taking. Alligators spend immeasurable time early in the season recharging their batteries, awakening their circulation and their systems with the Sun beating down on their capillary filled scutes lining their topside.

These Scutes act as energy efficient Solar Panels increasing circulation and awakening Instinctual rituals that will soon include resumption of feeding and searching for a mate. Throughout the Colder seasons, Reptiles Brumate, not hibernate, as they do emerge on bright, warm sunshiny days to drink and sunbathe. Feeding doesn't resume until temps are consistently in the upper 70's as circulation to the digestive system is temperature dependent. That being said, they emerge hangry early on so upmost care must be exercised when viewing. It's always exciting to view any wild animal in its natural environment but they must be respected with distance and extreme caution.

​And Yes - I do have a good Zoom on my camera and I edit my photos by enlarging and cropping, making them appear closer and larger than they are. Thank you Daddy for teaching me those tricks of the trade early on in your darkroom ...