A lesson on ALLIGATORS from a Cajun

Newanderthal · 09-07-2012, 07:48 PM

I lived 30 years in SW Louisiana and have had my share of moments with this country's largest reptiles. I've grabbed some 4 footers, played with a 6, and paddled alongside one monster that was as long as our canoe (14.5 feet). I almost stepped on one while fishing from a levee, got hissed at by an angry female and tried to convince my brother to go to the hospital after he got his penis bit by a baby (long story). I'm not sure how many alligators I've interacted with over the years, but it's a lot. Anyway, I'll share some tidbits with you so you can get better photos of these prehistoric animals without doing something stupid that will land you in the hospital.

It's easy to make a mistake around alligators if you don't understand them. Ignorance is as dangerous as carelessness. I'll try to solve one of these issues here, you're responsible for the other.

First, you need to understand a few things about alligators. In 220 million years, these predators have evolved very little. That means that their overall design works and it works well. If it didn't, they would have died out or evolved into something else. They're just as good at ambushing unwary prey as they were millions of years before the first dinosaurs walked the earth. They possess lightning speed when attacking, the most powerful bite on the continent, a skull made of solid bone, the strength to dismember a grown man, and a very small brain (not much bigger than their eyes).

But for all their potential destructive ability, alligators are not as dangerous as you think. These animals tend to conserve energy whenever possible. A sunning alligator isn't likely to even acknowledge your presence as long as you don't get too close. How close is too close? Simple. The smaller the gator, the farther away it wants you to be. A six footer will probably bolt once you get within twenty or thirty feet, fleeing to the water where it's safe. A twelve footer might let you get as close as five or six feet before it goes for the water. Larger gators aren't as intimidated by people and some will just ignore you completely. They don't see you as food, so they don't care.

Approaching a gator can be tricky. If on land, do NOT approach from the front or from behind. If you approach from behind the gator might not notice your presence until you're very close, then it will become startled. If you startle a predator it will usually respond violently and you will lose that fight. Approaching from in front will make the gator feel cornered. It may decide that the only means of escape is to go through you. You really don't want that. It will hurt. If approaching from the side, the gator has the option to dart forward and escape without having to tear your leg off in the process.

When should you approach a gator? Only to get photos. Get only as close as you have to and let your zoom do the rest. No closer than thirty feet. If the gator begins to stand or turns its head, back away slowly. Don't move closer. You'll only disturb it. Take pictures of the gator when it's ignoring you. Once it acknowledges your presence you need to leave.

When should you NOT approach an alligator? If the gator doesn't have a clear escape route back to the water, leave it alone. If your approach would corner the alligator, do NOT approach. If approaching you would have to walk through water or mud, do NOT approach. If you have a dog or a child, do NOT approach. If you can see a large mound of dirt, mud, and moss (about 3-4 feet high and about 6 feet wide) DO NOT APPROACH. If you see babies, DO NOT APPROACH. Alligators are very protective of their young, behavior more akin to mammals than to reptiles. A female with young around will ignore all the rules and come straight at you and attack.

Alligators are vocal animals. If they feel threatened, they will usually let you know by emitting a deep, low hiss. If you hear the warning, go away. If the alligator makes any noise, go away. You might only get one warning, if you don't heed it, don't ask why you woke up in the hospital without your left leg.

In and around water extra care must be taken. If paddling around in your canoe or kayak, do not paddle right up to a swimming gator. Give them room and use your zoom lens for photos. Do NOT paddle toward a gator that is near the land. If you cut the gator off from open water it will feel cornered and the last thing you want to do is anger a monster while in its territory. If it attacks while you're in the water, your chances of survival drop drastically. Only paddle near a gator that is in the open water where it has ample opportunity to escape if it feels threatened, but even then, do not get closer than thirty feet. If it starts to swim away, change course and leave it along.

Lastly, do not EVER attempt to feed an alligator. Think about it. That monster sees you as a strange animal in his territory. Do you really want him associating you with food? Their brains are simple, operating on very little thought and a whole lot of reaction and instinct. The smell of food combined with the movement of your hand can provoke a feeding response that ends with the gator ignoring the fish you threw and moving straight toward the waving hand. Scent plus motion equals feast.

Be wary of these majestic creatures, use caution, and if you feel threatened or feel that the alligator might be uncomfortable with your presence, back away and do not bother it again. Take your photos from a distance and never corner an alligator. Give them space and never stand between them and their path back to the water. Imagine a straight line from the alligator's snout to the center of the nearest body of water. Do not cross that line, EVER. Do not feed them or take food out around them. Keep dogs and small children away. Alligators are attracted to dogs (perfect size for a snack) and children. Don't put your pets or kids on the menu. Do not approach nests (large mounds of mud and rotting vegetation) or babies. Their mom will not like it, and you will not enjoy it.

You can observe these prehistoric predators in their natural habitat without ever bothering them simply by keeping your distance and respecting their space. Watching a fourteen foot gator vanish beneath the glassy surface of a pond without creating a ripple and swimming mere inches below your canoe without disturbing the water in the slightest is an amazing experience and one I'll never forget.

They're not out to get you. They're not stalking you. Don't bother them and they won't bother you.

Judy Ann · 09-07-2012, 09:18 PM

My folks lived on a barrier island in SC and had a neighbor with a gator standing up against the front door after climbing up several steps. I will try to find the photo. Moral of the story, always check to see what is on the other side of the door before opening it up!

...and don't feed the gators!

wvbreamfisherman · 09-07-2012, 09:46 PM

You feed the gator....you may end up being gator food! (Applies to bears as well.)

Pathfinder1 · 09-07-2012, 10:14 PM

[QUOTE=Newanderthal;71872]I lived 30 years in SW Louisiana and have had my share of moments with this country's largest reptiles. I've grabbed some 4 footers, played with a 6, and paddled alongside one monster that was as long as our canoe (14.5 feet). I almost stepped on one while fishing from a levee, got hissed at by an angry female and tried to convince my brother to go to the hospital after he got his penis bit by a baby (long story).

Hi...

Thanks for all the info. And, thanks for my evening's chuckle...!!

Esperahol · 09-07-2012, 10:18 PM

For the record they are faster than they look and can be quite aggressive. They are also fantastic at camo so one should always take care in those types of enviroments.

Grandpa · 09-07-2012, 11:09 PM

I guarantee I'll stay at least 30 feet away.....as long as they stay out of Idaho

All of what New said makes perfect sense to me. Except before he said it I had no idea other than stay away from them. Which is why I have said before, I do not have the experience to survive long trying to survive in the southern swamplands.

By the same token, what is basic survival that even my 12 year old grandkids know about the high mountains may be alien info for others not used to our conditions. While getting caught out at night in an unplanned session in a snowbank is not a big thing for me, getting caught out at night in those La or Fl swamps would probably be a near death experience.

shaun · 09-08-2012, 05:05 AM

Great informative post. I had a bad experience with an alligator in Florida when I was a kid. It was my fault because I threw a stone near the alligator to see if it would respond, it did respond very aggressively. The alligator rushed us and it was a close call.

Esperahol · 09-08-2012, 06:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shaun

Great informative post. I had a bad experience with an alligator in Florida when I was a kid. It was my fault because I threw a stone near the alligator to see if it would respond, it did respond very aggressively. The alligator rushed us and it was a close call.

This is why I love kids, but prefer not to watch them. The precious little dears are seemingly determined to qualify for a Darwin Award before they can even step up to bat so to speak.

Marshmallow · 09-08-2012, 08:04 AM

Thanks for sharing a lot of helpful information. I've never seen a gator in the wild. I also cannot imagine why anyone would be close to an alligator with a baby. That totally escapes me, but the warnings should help even the most ignorant among us.

Esperahol · 09-09-2012, 05:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marshmallow

Thanks for sharing a lot of helpful information. I've never seen a gator in the wild. I also cannot imagine why anyone would be close to an alligator with a baby. That totally escapes me, but the warnings should help even the most ignorant among us.

It's the same reason people don't run like the dogs of hell are after them when they see a bear cub. They're so used to pups and kittens being safe to interact with (generally) that they forget most critters are even more vicious in the presense of their young.