BG Joins My Congregation

I was walking Miss Ems yesterday morning cutting through a great friend's side yard when I saw what I thought was a diminutive Gator baby sunning at the water's edge of Little Pond. Half of its body was submerged, the other half soaking up that life giving Sun so important to all reptiles as they are Ectothermic or rely on outside sources for heat. In essence, this critter was recharging its batteries after a cool September evening. I wasn't even 100% certain it was an Alligator as it was so still it could have easily been a stick. How many times have I approached, heart hammering away in my chest in anticipation of spotting a new friend and it morphed itself into a branch on closer inspection?? I'm quite embarrassed to say... I couldn't get a closer look with my little Striped Hyena in tow so I resolved to check this situation later...

I have to admit I was terribly disappointed when I returned with MacKenzie later to get a better view, the stick was nowhere to be seen! That sadness quickly dissipated and was replaced with elation as this was a totally new resident to my pond. I had seen this tiny Dragon earlier this week in Middle Pond but that day as soon as it saw me it submerged. Mack and I continued on our walk and I returned solo with my camera in tow. I did a scan of the water’s edge, the lily pads and distant shore and saw nothing. I made myself small and began talking to the critter and lo and behold it began lazily swimming from the farthest corner towards me. Fearlessly, with its head and body above the water's surface, it continued its approach as I watched in disbelief. It made a stop in the top water vegetation, treading water and sizing me up. I truly believe wild creatures can sense intent. After what seemed to be a lifetime, the baby started swimming again.

Pinch me!! I kept talking softly to my baby and unbelievably it left the safety of the center of the pond with its thick cover and came closer to me out of curiosity. I couldn't believe my good fortune! We briefly enjoyed each other's company as I reminisced about the first time I spotted my Baby Cyclops Gator in this same pond. She was close to 3 feet at that time and has since fully matured to over 6 feet now, even though she's missing about 6 inches off of her tail tip. This particular critter is about half that size. I rarely see Cyclops now but I don't actively pursue her as I once did when she was smaller. I have known her for 9 yrs and I still refer to her as my Baby Gator. My first sightings of her were the year Hurricane Michael blew through here and once that storm exited, I never saw her again until the following spring. I frantically searched for her to no avail and I feared the worst. I have since learned of the resilience of this species as a whole...

Here’s to hope that this little one has the instinct, grit, moxy and survival skills to avoid all of the perils of life that a baby Gator faces in a habitat that is rapidly shrinking while exponential development overtakes us all.
You can bet I will do everything in my power to protect this Baby Alligator in my hood as it navigates traffic, humans, housing, dogs, great blue herons, snapping turtles, catfish and bass. See you later my Baby Gator. I think I'll call you BG. Welcome to my Congregation!
Side Note: A gathering or collection of Alligators is called a Congregation if you didn't already know...