Some days out there it’s like all the locals turn out at the same time. This was one of them. He was much too large to be a female, hence the title here.
Nobody really knows how many Alligator are around the Lowcountry, but I have heard over 110,000. Not sure where the number came from, it stuck in my head as a lot, but considering the marsh sizes and what we see that may be low.
She was staying close to the shore but at the time I could see or hear nothing. I knew there were about 13-14 young ones here. They were clever and stayed hidden right at the waters edge in brush.
Alligators are the only reptile that guard young after they hatch. They need to you since babies are small and just about everything out here will eat them.
I didn’t want to upset her, or get her excited so we stood there watching. Mom did start to move around the edges of the branches though.
And soon we heard the little ‘chirps’ of babies. Closer than I thought and right at the waterline. They were no larger than 6 inches (15 centimeters).
Mom was working her way around the brush watching us. Around here we are not considered much of a threat, but this not to mean you get too close or bother the young.
In the above image I tried to capture a few babies without leaning over.
The little ones stayed in the thick greenery, some slipping under the water. I did want a better open shot but today was not the day.
Mom was about 15 yards (13 meter) and floating. She was careful and calm.
There’s no reason to get her agitated so we move on.
Their photographs can be just so dramatic.
Ominous, threatening… yet they are doing absolutely nothing.
The smaller Alligator in the middle may be a mature female, all the rest look to be males. A female usually doesn’t get any larger than 8 feet (2.5 meters). The others are 111-12 feet (3.5 meters).
For perspective the second shot above had my lens pulled all the way back at 150mm. Yes I was close, but I’m not out there swimming with them either.
ACE Basin, South Carolina.
The temperatures have finally started to dip into the winter weather. We all joke about ‘winter weather’ here, yet it still is cold.
Alligators are cold blooded animals, winter is not easy for them. All the sunny spots are filled during the day.
While they don’t hibernate, their body will slow way down. No eating, they don’t need or want to.
A big hole somewhere is what they will be looking for soon. I’ve never seen a gator hole but might be nice to know where they are…just to avoid the area.
Yes, it’s strange. But floating heads are pretty common in the Lowcountry.
Even big ones like this.
Taken in ACE Basin, South Carolina.
There was no movement when I walked past. I didn’t think he noticed me.
When I turned to take the shot I found his head up watching.
Perhaps 10 feet (3 meters). Not really big for here, but it’s all relative.
This was a nice and simple landscape when I took. Nothing dramatic, an Egret fishing in a large marsh.
However it’s important to look all around out there.
Like the Alligator a bit further along the waters edge…sitting and watching.
This Mom has kept the kids pretty close and hidden away in reeds and low hanging brush.
Young Alligators make little ‘chirping’ noises which is at times the only way you know they are around.
It’s that or ‘the look’ from Mom.
Above are a few new born hiding. I didn’t think it prudent to lean down at them.
Mom was still there.
