​“Little Twofer”

​Not so Quick post about the little Twofer (2 footer) that was in Little Pond last year, then Middle Pond then disappeared late Spring of this year... Happy to report this baby is now in a safer spot just perfect to continue thriving amongst the cover of thick lily pads in a shallow bog refilled with water after Tropical Cyclone #8 dumped 26" of rain here last September in a days’ time. It's so rewarding to see the babies in my hood. The sad thing is for the last few years only one little critter has survived the first couple of years of their lives per annum. That means that out of a clutch of 30-ish or so eggs only 1 made it this far. So, if you happen to see a solo baby Gator over 2 ft long just marvel at the fact that this juvenile has beaten the odds of survival. It's safely navigated other Alligators, raccoons and otters, catfish and bass, snapping turtles and sliders and most importantly terrors of the shore like herons that commonly feast on these baby dragons. Yes, herons eat Alligators even up to 2 and 3 footers or so. I placed 2 scarecrows on either end of Little Pond last year to deter the Great Blue Heron that frequently fished the shoreline. I'm happy to report it worked. Storms finally ravaged the fall decorations so I have since removed them as trash. Remember “Tude”? The baby one that visited my house from Little Pond last year? Emmylou alerted me to his / her presence under our boat shelter last Summer. Anyway, I have seen Tude this year on a walk with MacKenzie on the edge of a wooded lot between 2 of our ponds. I have to admit, Mack spotted the 3.5 footer first and savagely went after it. Tude responded in kind by jumping high into the air startling me, gaping and hissing loudly then quickly scurrying off thru the woods leaving me to battle a highly over-excited Australian Cattle Dog. Let me tell you. That girl wanted her some Gator that morning. No fear. No hesitation. Just pure unadulterated prey drive! So we can now add dogs to the list of dangers that young Alligators must defend themselves against. Missy Macky meant serious business. Sorry to say I haven't seen Tude since that early summer morning but I feel he / she is thriving somewhere in one of our 6 neighborhood ponds. I am much more wary now on our walks as this wasn't an area I normally watch for my gators. It is a heavily traveled area for huge snapping turtles and many large sliders but now I can add subadult Alligators to the list of creatures using this natural highway.