Spring Time in the Swamp

These pictures are from last March ('07) in the Okefenokee enroute to Cedar Hammock shelter.

This little guy is a yearling, maybe a foot long. What you can't see in the picture is the half dozen more of them that are laying in the bushes behind him!

It was a bit chilly this day, so smart gators were staying out of the water and catching some rays. This one was looking at me as if to say "you're not gonna make me get in the water are ya?"

Of course not all of the beautiful wildlife in the swamp are reptilian. There is never a shortage of wading birds of many types... like this Blue Heron in the foreground, with large egrets in the background.

And let's not forget the plant lovers out there.. even if you think the alligators are unattractive, you have to admit that this is beautiful.

Gator country

There is not a more beautiful sight in this part of the world, to me, than the trails of the Okefenokee Swamp. The picture below is a sight that greets me every time I put my kayak into the water in this wonderland.




Why do I keep coming back here more than anywhere else? The alligators. I love them. It is amazing to be surrounded by these creatures that have remained virtually unchanged since the time of the dinosaurs. It is also somewhat humbling to be reminded that humans are not necessarily top of the food chain.

These amazing creatures are truly awe inspiring. It is not uncommon to see dozens of them on each trip.. sometimes hundreds when the water level is low. I have been coming here fairly often for several years now, and I am never disappointed when it comes to viewing these beasts.

No matter what most people believe, these animals are actually not very aggressive. They are also not very smart, so an alligator that has been fed by humans can readily associate humans with food, but not necessarily be able to tell the difference between the food and the person. Here is what goes on in the gator's mind when you toss it food... "hmm.. people... splash!...food!" They learn this fairly easily. Before long, they see people and approach them.. waiting for the familiar splash that means FOOD. Well, if you are unfortunate enough to jump or fall into the water near one of these poor dumb beasts that is waiting for the splash=food, then you may very well have a big problem very quickly. DON'T FEED THE ALLIGATORS! They are quite adept at finding their own food, which is why they haven't evolved much in millions of years.