The alligator made an appearance this morning. It had not been around, or at least had not surfaced, for several weeks.
Our house is slightly to the right of being centered on the pond. The alligator today was about 10 o’clock from the lanai and pool, 60 feet from the bank. It floated to the right for a time, and then began moving faster, although there was no surface disturbance. The alligator moved toward the bank, about 5 o’clock in reference to the house. About 20 feet from the bank, it went under. We have not seen it since then.
Three days ago, Priscilla interviewed a home health representative concerning a CNA for John, who is with us for a couple of weeks. We mentioned our alligator.
The home health rep said he had a pond behind his house. The pond has an alligator.
“Some of those … what are they called – snowbirds. A retired man and woman, and they were feeding the alligator!”
He said he went to the couple’s house and told them, “You aren’t supposed to feed the alligators.”
City people to whom wild animals are misunderstood cuddly creatures.
Showing posts with label alligator in my pond. Show all posts
Showing posts with label alligator in my pond. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 7, 2015
Saturday, June 6, 2015
Gator guard part 2
The alligator popped up when the dogs were out late this afternoon.
“Is that it?” Priscilla said after we had had the dogs out about five minutes.
I looked around and saw only some floating green stuff, washed into the pond by last night’s rain.
“Over there,” she said, pointing.
I looked. Sure enough -- a large floating reptile. The alligator was showing the most of itself I had yet seen, half the snout and half its body above the surface. If its display was to get attention, it was successful.
We watched it move slowly from right to left. The five dogs were oblivious.
The alligator made a 60-degree turn toward us when about halfway across the pond. It was about 20 feet from shore.
“We’re going in,” Priscilla said. She gathered the dogs. I followed.
When we all were inside the lanai, I looked back at the pond. The alligator floated on the same course, about 10 feet from shore.
Adventures in Florida.
“Is that it?” Priscilla said after we had had the dogs out about five minutes.
I looked around and saw only some floating green stuff, washed into the pond by last night’s rain.
“Over there,” she said, pointing.
I looked. Sure enough -- a large floating reptile. The alligator was showing the most of itself I had yet seen, half the snout and half its body above the surface. If its display was to get attention, it was successful.
We watched it move slowly from right to left. The five dogs were oblivious.
The alligator made a 60-degree turn toward us when about halfway across the pond. It was about 20 feet from shore.
“We’re going in,” Priscilla said. She gathered the dogs. I followed.
When we all were inside the lanai, I looked back at the pond. The alligator floated on the same course, about 10 feet from shore.
Adventures in Florida.
Gator guard
Having an alligator in the pond out back is a neat thing, as long as alligator and human remember limitations and boundaries.
Having an alligator is not the same as having a lion. To start with, seldom does one find “a lion” in the wild, whereas alligators almost always travel in ones. A pride can be much more intrusive than a single big reptile.
Our alligator has, so far, stayed in its confines. The pond out back is around an acre and has sufficient fish and turtles to satisfy an alligator appetite.
The alligator, however, has made an appearance close to shore the last two times my wife and I kept our daughter’s three dogs. The youngest dog looks like a Dogo Argentino. It has all the colorations and weight and, therefore, is not a likely alligator meal, unless an alligator happened to be very hungry and aggressive. Our dogs are Standard poodles, 87 and 60 pounds.
The other two dogs are Pugs. Perfect alligator meals. Right weight for eating and right size for not putting up much of a fight if grabbed.
This morning, my wife said, “I am taking the dogs out back. I’ll keep the big ones on leashes and try to keep Lola and Jack (Pugs) away from the pond.”
Reading the unspoken request, I said, “Do you want me to stand gator guard?” She said that was a good idea,
I got my 5.5-foot walking stick and journeyed out back. I positioned about six feet from the water, a proper distance for one armed with a walking stick only slightly less than six feet long. The three big dogs were, of course, trying to go in three different directions. But they were leashed, and my wife is quite good at controlling leashed dogs.
The not-leashed Pugs went along the levee but did not venture near the water. That was good, because my legs no longer make quick turns or strides. A quick turn and attempted stride made at the same time will result in my body contacting whatever surface I am walking on. Thick grass makes a good landing surface, but if the alligator should burst from the water and land between the Pugs and me, its speed likely would be greater than mine.
Nothing untoward happened this morning. I expect only toward events when we take the dogs out.
But seeing snout and eyes just above the surface gives one pause.
Having an alligator is not the same as having a lion. To start with, seldom does one find “a lion” in the wild, whereas alligators almost always travel in ones. A pride can be much more intrusive than a single big reptile.
Our alligator has, so far, stayed in its confines. The pond out back is around an acre and has sufficient fish and turtles to satisfy an alligator appetite.
The alligator, however, has made an appearance close to shore the last two times my wife and I kept our daughter’s three dogs. The youngest dog looks like a Dogo Argentino. It has all the colorations and weight and, therefore, is not a likely alligator meal, unless an alligator happened to be very hungry and aggressive. Our dogs are Standard poodles, 87 and 60 pounds.
The other two dogs are Pugs. Perfect alligator meals. Right weight for eating and right size for not putting up much of a fight if grabbed.
This morning, my wife said, “I am taking the dogs out back. I’ll keep the big ones on leashes and try to keep Lola and Jack (Pugs) away from the pond.”
Reading the unspoken request, I said, “Do you want me to stand gator guard?” She said that was a good idea,
I got my 5.5-foot walking stick and journeyed out back. I positioned about six feet from the water, a proper distance for one armed with a walking stick only slightly less than six feet long. The three big dogs were, of course, trying to go in three different directions. But they were leashed, and my wife is quite good at controlling leashed dogs.
The not-leashed Pugs went along the levee but did not venture near the water. That was good, because my legs no longer make quick turns or strides. A quick turn and attempted stride made at the same time will result in my body contacting whatever surface I am walking on. Thick grass makes a good landing surface, but if the alligator should burst from the water and land between the Pugs and me, its speed likely would be greater than mine.
Nothing untoward happened this morning. I expect only toward events when we take the dogs out.
But seeing snout and eyes just above the surface gives one pause.
Thursday, April 23, 2015
A new alligator
Wednesday afternoon, Priscilla called quietly from the patio: “Do you want to see the alligator?”
Does a dog want to see a pork chop?
I went outside. The alligator floated about 20 feet from the bank of the pond. Two ducks watched, suspiciously, one would think, right next to the bank and 15 feet from the patio, opposite from the alligator.
This is our second alligator. I did not see the first alligator. Priscilla said it was five feet long. The new one is about four feet long. It was out just a few minutes ago. Priscilla said it popped up when she took the dogs outside. Yesterday we had Kathleen’s two pugs. The alligator popped up then, too.
The pond – roughly 100 yards by 200 yards – has a number of fish. The fish jump many times a day. With fish, there are probably turtles as well.
Priscilla said she saw a Sandhill Crane with a catfish yesterday. The fish was around two pounds. She said the crane beat the fish against the ground several times, until movement stopped. Then the crane dipped the fish in the pond and swallowed it.
Today, Priscilla said she saw in the back yard our cormorant, a red wing blackbird, a mocking bird, a great white heron, and a black bird. And the new alligator.
Does a dog want to see a pork chop?
I went outside. The alligator floated about 20 feet from the bank of the pond. Two ducks watched, suspiciously, one would think, right next to the bank and 15 feet from the patio, opposite from the alligator.
This is our second alligator. I did not see the first alligator. Priscilla said it was five feet long. The new one is about four feet long. It was out just a few minutes ago. Priscilla said it popped up when she took the dogs outside. Yesterday we had Kathleen’s two pugs. The alligator popped up then, too.
The pond – roughly 100 yards by 200 yards – has a number of fish. The fish jump many times a day. With fish, there are probably turtles as well.
Priscilla said she saw a Sandhill Crane with a catfish yesterday. The fish was around two pounds. She said the crane beat the fish against the ground several times, until movement stopped. Then the crane dipped the fish in the pond and swallowed it.
Today, Priscilla said she saw in the back yard our cormorant, a red wing blackbird, a mocking bird, a great white heron, and a black bird. And the new alligator.
Thursday, November 20, 2014
Backyard alligator
A neighbor said the alligator was sunning on the bank for a while yesterday. The pond is less than 50 feet from our back windows. I haven't yet seen the critter. It will be the first wild alligator I have seen. When I see it. If it decides to surface near my back yard.
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