Gator Gal

If you’re an unlucky photographer like I was at southwest Florida’s Myakka River State Park, this is what happens: dozens and dozens of alligators suddenly appear – basking on the shores and slithering in the waters around you, but you’re trapped in an airboat in the third seat from the side of the vessel – where you can see them but it’s difficult to get any good shots! The tour guide said he’d never seen so many alligators out before! To make things worse, my little camera needed to be recharged. Frustration with a capital F! I did manage to get a few photos though and reflected later that the experience is more important than those darn photos! We live in such a photo-obsessed world.

Our guide, a northeasterner who came to vacation in Florida and decided to stay forever, was a fount of information about alligator life and habits. He imitated the roar of a male alligator trying to attract females to mate. Fortunately, no female alligators lurched towards him! Typically, alligators have a life span of 35 – 50 years but some have been known to live for as long as 80 years.They eat anything and with those strong jaws they can even crack the very hard shell of a turtle! They will often break up large prey like deer and wild pigs and stash the carcass in alligator holes along the shallow lake, to be eaten at a later date. It was a good thing that our airboat, appropriately named “Gator Gal” made the trip safely.

The Myakka River and the two shallow lakes that it drains into forms a system of wetlands, prairies and forests. There’s a scenic drive along the shores of upper Myakka Lake where you can see large tracts of rare Florida prairie. Along the road, beautiful Florida oaks with live mosses trailing down form an unforgettable canopy.

Birders like us were delighted to find a bird walk which is a boardwalk on the upper lake. We saw a large variety of our fine feathered friends – bald eagles, all kinds of herons, ibises – including the glossy black ibis, egrets, pelicans, ospreys, wood storks, roseate spoonbills, anhingas, terns, cranes and all manner of ducks.

There’s another very cool feature about this state park – the canopy walkway. Along one of the nature trails, you come across a 70 foot tall tower. Climb that, and you are rewarded with an awesome 360 degree view of the surrounding wetlands, forest and prairie below.

Note to myself: for the next visit – bring my best camera – fully charged. Also, get in line early to go on the tour and don’t waste too much time eating lunch at the friendly Pink Gator Café. They also serve homemade alligator stew. Don’t think I’ll go for that!

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