They Live Among Us
By Jeff Moffitt
@moffittjc (128831)
Gainesville, Florida
October 9, 2016 9:16pm CST
If you live in Florida, or have ever visited the Sunshine state, you undoubtedly are aware that alligators are all over the place, and number in the millions. Once facing declining numbers that were so alarming that the reptile was put on the federal Endangered Species Act, the comeback of the American alligator has been a tremendous success story.
On a walk this afternoon, I came across one of these amazing creatures (which is not hard to do, they are everywhere in Florida now). He/she was just sitting there in the water, silently watching my every move as I approached close enough to get a photo. Looking at me with those beady little eyes, I could only imagine what thoughts were going through its puny little brain. It probably was contemplating how it could easily kill and eat me if it wanted to!
After snapping a photo, I continued my walk along the lakefront, always being cognizant that dangerous creatures could be lurking silently just under the surface of the water.
I love alligators, and have a deep respect for them. They have survived on this planet for millions of years, and have evolved very little in their 65+ millions years on this planet. When you have a creature that essentially does not evolve over 65 million years, you know you are facing an efficient killing machine!
Do you fear alligators, or do you like them?
22 people like this
28 responses
Though yes...it is said that they are the direct decedents of the Dinosaurs.@moffittjc (128831)
• Gainesville, Florida
10 Oct 16
There is new research coming out that suggests they were actually alive at the same time as the dinosaurs, and looked pretty much the exact same (they haven't evolved much in the past 65 millions years).
2 people like this
@moffittjc (128831)
• Gainesville, Florida
11 Oct 16
@ms1864 Archaeologists have uncovered some 65 million year old alligator bones here recently, and they weren't too much bigger than the current version of alligators. I'm sure everything was bigger in the dinosaur days! Interestingly, alligators will only grow as big as their surroundings will allow. So, if an alligator lives in a very small pond, it will remain a very small alligator. If they live in a big lake (and assuming there isn't competition from other gators), they will get very large!
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
10 Oct 16
I would be very cautious about alligators and careful when I was near water or even on a golf course,
2 people like this
@moffittjc (128831)
• Gainesville, Florida
10 Oct 16
I am especially careful on golf courses! Especially since just about every one of my golf balls ends up in the water!
3 people like this
@moffittjc (128831)
• Gainesville, Florida
10 Oct 16
@JamesHxstatic It's more of a slice for me than a hook. Been trying to work on it for years, but I always seem to fall back into my old habits!
2 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
10 Oct 16
@moffittjc Ooops, better work on that hook.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (169439)
• United States
10 Oct 16
If I lived there I would probably be fearful. But then again, we have coyotes and Michigan has wolves.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (128831)
• Gainesville, Florida
10 Oct 16
They are kind of frightening at first, and for people who don't live in Florida or aren't used to dealing with them, it can be pretty scary. But I grew up in Florida, and grew up around alligators. You learn to accept them, and also learn to respect them. You also learn to always keep a watchful eye on them as well!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128831)
• Gainesville, Florida
10 Oct 16
@vandana7 Most of the time they are pretty docile, and don't mess with people too much. But in the spring, during mating season, they get very aggressive. They also wander around a lot during mating season, so it's not uncommon to find them in unusual places, like walking down city streets or trying to get in your front door!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128831)
• Gainesville, Florida
10 Oct 16
I've already had one on my doorstep earlier this year! They usually wander around during mating season, so you'll tend to find them in very weird places!
1 person likes this
@annaroselock (805)
• United Kingdom
10 Oct 16
They are pretty amazing creatures, I saw one from a distance when I was in Florida 
But please tell me this is a guy in a suit playing a prank?! This isn't an alligator, this is a monster! 
But please tell me this is a guy in a suit playing a prank?! This isn't an alligator, this is a monster! 
Talk about a hazard! A giant alligator took a stroll across the fairway, making his way to the lake beside the third hole at Buffalo Creek Golf Club. Video c...
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128831)
• Gainesville, Florida
10 Oct 16
That video is real! And not too long after that one, there was another video of another monster alligator crossing a golf course! Its pretty common to see them on golf courses, although they usually aren't that big! And they look really slow, but they can run faster than a person when they need to!
Are you coming back to Florida anytime soon?
2 people like this
@annaroselock (805)
• United Kingdom
10 Oct 16
@moffittjc Haha yeah they're devious things.
And no doubt I will one day, my family wanted to go back this month but that's not happening now.
Maybe next year
2 people like this
@moffittjc (128831)
• Gainesville, Florida
11 Oct 16
Yes, they are scary creatures!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128831)
• Gainesville, Florida
11 Oct 16
@vandana7 Alligatores? No, we Americans don't find them fascinating. But Bigfoot, we find him very fascinating indeed!
{Bigfoot is known by many names: Sasquatch, Yeti, Abominable Snowman, or as he is called in Florida...a Skunk Ape}
2 people like this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
10 Oct 16
@moffittjc I try to avoid getting close to their mouth because their breath stinks.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128831)
• Gainesville, Florida
10 Oct 16
I like alligator tail, when it's cooked up nice and served warm on a plate. I don't mind getting close at that point! lol
@moffittjc (128831)
• Gainesville, Florida
11 Oct 16
@Asylum Could be worse...you could be up close and personal with the stink that is coming out the other end of their body!
1 person likes this
@allen0187 (59645)
• Philippines
11 Oct 16
Great photo!
Thanks for sharing it. I won't get too close to alligators, they are deceptively fast and mobile for their size.
1 person likes this
@allen0187 (59645)
• Philippines
12 Oct 16
@moffittjc true.
Also, alligators staying still for long amounts of time is their way of baiting their possible prey to come closer to them.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128831)
• Gainesville, Florida
12 Oct 16
Yes, they are very deceptively fast! People think they are slow and lazy, but they can move with quickness and agility when they need to!
1 person likes this
@vandana7 (102698)
• India
10 Oct 16
@moffittjc ... Nah...the whole species is gone bonkers..
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128831)
• Gainesville, Florida
11 Oct 16
@vandana7 I think that depends on if we elect Donald Trump as President. Then, I will agree with you that we've gone totally bonkers!
1 person likes this
@toniganzon (77084)
• Philippines
10 Oct 16
I haven't really been face to face with a gator so can't say I fear them and don't know much about them to say I like them. Introduce me to one and I'll probably tell you then how I feel about them.
1 person likes this
@toniganzon (77084)
• Philippines
11 Oct 16
@moffittjc send a baby one. My pond's not big enough.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128831)
• Gainesville, Florida
11 Oct 16
@toniganzon Definitely! The baby ones are much cuter! And they don't hurt quite as bad when they bite you when they are teething!
@moffittjc (128831)
• Gainesville, Florida
10 Oct 16
I can send one to you if you want to meet an alligator face to face!
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (94909)
• United States
10 Oct 16
That's a nice shot!
It looks like you were pretty to close too!
I have never saw an alligator that close besides a zoo? And even so I would fear them!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128831)
• Gainesville, Florida
10 Oct 16
I did zoom my iPhone camera as much as I could, I wasn't quite as close as the photo makes it look! I value keeping my arms and legs attached to my body, so I didn't want to get any closer than I had to!
3 people like this
@infatuatedbby (94909)
• United States
10 Oct 16
@moffittjc You still managed to take a nice photo!
My iPhone 6Plus rear camera is CRAPPY. even if I tried zooming it sucks. I am going to wait for the next phone in hopes they'll have a headphone jack again! I don't want to use an adapter.
My iPhone 6Plus rear camera is CRAPPY. even if I tried zooming it sucks. I am going to wait for the next phone in hopes they'll have a headphone jack again! I don't want to use an adapter.1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128831)
• Gainesville, Florida
10 Oct 16
@infatuatedbby I have an iPhone 6plus, and I agree that the camera isn't the best, but it sure is better than the one on my iPhone 5, and way better than the one that was on my droid phone! I want an iPhone 7 really bad, but I hate the fact that there is not headphone jack. To me, eliminating that was the stupidest thing ever!
1 person likes this
@41CombedaleRoad (5966)
• Greece
10 Oct 16
I would not care to join you on one of your expeditions so close to the water my friend! I think that I would be terrified to meet one as close up and personal as you do.
1 person likes this
@41CombedaleRoad (5966)
• Greece
12 Oct 16
@moffittjc Some people have more of a need for excitement than others. I'm one of the others...
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128831)
• Gainesville, Florida
13 Oct 16
@41CombedaleRoad I consider myself somewhere in the middle. I'm not one of those yahoo idiot daredevils out there trying to do stupid stunts and things like that for the big adrenaline rush, but I do like to try tough and challenging experiences.
@moffittjc (128831)
• Gainesville, Florida
10 Oct 16
There are so many of them around that you just get used to them. It's like scuba divers in the ocean, they just get used to sharks swimming all around them when they are diving.
@LadyDuck (502208)
• Italy
12 Oct 16
@moffittjc Of course I respect them, as well as the tortoise, that also are very ancient animals.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128831)
• Gainesville, Florida
13 Oct 16
@LadyDuck I find the tortoise to be a very fascinating creature! I also respect the fact that they live for hundreds of years! If they could talk, I bet they have some good stories to tell!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128831)
• Gainesville, Florida
12 Oct 16
For me, it's more of a respect than a fear. I respect that they have survived 65 million years for a reason!
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@moffittjc (128831)
• Gainesville, Florida
12 Oct 16
They really enjoy a nice belly rubbing! It brings a big smile to their face!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128831)
• Gainesville, Florida
12 Oct 16
@Jenning I actually did pet an alligator before, but it was just a baby and it's mouth was taped shut so it couldn't bite me!
1 person likes this
@Jenning (2016)
• Nigeria
12 Oct 16
@moffittjc Hahahahahaha I believe you've not tried that...
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128831)
• Gainesville, Florida
12 Oct 16
I think he looks hungry! lol
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@nanette64 (20363)
• Fairfield, Texas
10 Oct 16
I've never seen one in real life @TheHorse , but yeah, I would be very careful if I ever came across one.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128831)
• Gainesville, Florida
11 Oct 16
No gators in Texas? I guess you would have to go to the bayous and swamps of Louisiana to see any close to you!
1 person likes this
@nanette64 (20363)
• Fairfield, Texas
11 Oct 16
@moffittjc It is a possibility. Maybe I need to go down and check my stock tank.
1 person likes this
@JESSY3236 (22238)
• United States
10 Oct 16
both. I never came upon one, but I would be afraid to go near one.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128831)
• Gainesville, Florida
11 Oct 16
I always used to think I was safe from alligators, until one day I saw one climb a fence to get to the other side! Now, I'm not so sure we're ever truly safe from them!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128831)
• Gainesville, Florida
12 Oct 16
@LisaSteinmetz Just don't visit during mating season, and you'll be fine!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128831)
• Gainesville, Florida
11 Oct 16
I think the key word in your comment is that they're not hungry! Once their bellies are full, they are actually very docile creatures. But, when they're hungry, anything that moves needs to keep a watchful eye on them. And they are lightning fast too!
@everwonderwhy (7355)
•
17 Oct 16
What an amazing walk you've written about. I do not share any fascination with crocodiles ( Aussie term).
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128831)
• Gainesville, Florida
18 Oct 16
We have both alligators and crocodiles here in Florida. But the crocodiles are saltwater crocs, and only live in the very southern tip of the state. The gators are freshwater reptiles, although occasionally you will see one sneak out and take a dip in the ocean!
@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
12 Oct 16
I've never seen one in the wild but they scare me - it seems like it would want to eat me, but like most wild things, maybe it's only violent when it's provoked or hungry....
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128831)
• Gainesville, Florida
13 Oct 16
Yes, that is the truth! Alligators are very docile, except for when they are provoked, or hungry, or it is mating season!
