HELLO MARCH

Hello March!!! What are the odds I would make it out on the very day that Ozzy decided to emerge from Brumation??!!?? Thank you Heather Winterbottom for your picture tipping me off to this subadult out and about basking, reveling in the 70 plus degree day lending its life- giving, metabolism kicking heat. Alligators are Ectothermic, meaning they depend on their outside environment to wake up and get their circulation going.

And Many Thanks for not posting the location to protect my Gator. I actually had to stop an elderly gentleman from feeding him that day as he walked to the edge of the retention pond that Ozzy inhabits with his cup of some as yet unidentified fried tidbits. "Watch this!" he said. I quickly intercepted him, hand up as he stopped with a bewildered look on his face, my mantra of 'A Fed Gator is a Dead Gator' rolling off my tongue. I explained that when Alligators are fed they lose their natural fear of humans and begin to approach people, expecting a handout. Alligators are opportunistic feeders and who doesn't like a free meal? Unfortunately, this is how they often get into trouble, coming out of the safety of the water, sometimes even being attracted to dogs that accompany the well intentioned. If it moves, it's food. When Alligators become a Nuisance they must be removed from their familiar environments into the wilds of the Green Swamp or Holly Shelter wetlands. When they are relocated, they face new dangers in an unfamiliar terrain, full of much larger Gators which are cannibalistic. Life for an Alligator is not easy anywhere and I read somewhere once only half of relocated Gators survive the move. Most meet their demise trying to return home on our ever increasingly busy roadways. I thanked my new friend for trying to help me get an action shot and a smile creased the corners of his eyes as he refrained from feeding our friend.

Ozzy fared the winter well, sleek and shiny after a few cleansing dips into his green pool. Here's to many more sightings of my Scaley Scuted Friends in this most welcome transitional month of March with its ever increasing temps, the winds and my favorite part - Daylight Savings Time! Remember, never pass up a chance to educate...

Knowledge is good...
​
Pass it on... it saves lives...