We decided to drive seven miles away –
To a state park where there was a almost three mile
nature walking path –
Named Panther Paw point park –
because they spotted a panther there
sometime in the past!
” LIONS – TIGERS and BEARS OH MY” !
and the trail around the lake
in some spots
got very narrow
with brush and reeds on either side!
and notice the pictures of all
we might observe while walking
we did see a lot of areas dug up
like giant moles had been there
my thought “WILD BOARS”!
of the several loops
you can make
This also is a place
where people come to ride horses
there were a half dozen
horse trailers in the lot!
the path leading into the woods
stay on the path
its a jungle out there!
you break out and start following the lake
just over the bank
and right near the water
I would estimate 15 to 20
feet from me!
He was big – but not as big
as the next one we saw
still I was nervous
standing there!
about 30 feet away
that gator would of been one half the distance
The path itself was 10 to 12 feet wide
with the lake and reeds and bushes and trees on one side
the other side sometimes a fence with pasture
other times just marsh and a lot of bushes
I keep my eyes on the lake side!
And I never saw the gators until I was maybe 25 feet away!
Sherry was following
and she said here is a snake
I had walked right by it!
It was maybe 6 to 8 feet away
She saw it – it raised up
and she backed away
and then she took this picture
when I went back it was slithering away
I told her it looked like a black snake
but still I never saw it!
I would say it was 4 or 5 feet long!
this was pasture land on the right side
away from the lake
however
there were sections that you could not see through
and the path narrowed down
to maybe 6 or 7 feet wide
making me very nervous!
I would say 10 to 12 feet long
those are the hind legs
and the tail was maybe another four foot long
He was really big around and almost black!
This one was maybe 15 feet over the side
of the bank – out of the water
and in the bushes and reeds
there was a trail down to him
and I assume that is where he went
back and forth!
This gator was really big – never moved – I learned later
at that time of day – they are not that active – plus the water
is only around 60 degrees –
They are night hunters and during the day -they warm up in the sun
and heat of the day and digest their food
from the night before!
This one was maybe 200 yards from the other one
which makes me think this was his territory!
nervous at times
hot in the sun
a half dozen horse riders passed us
I WOULD NOT WALK THIS AT TWILIGHT!
huddle together
in the middle of the lake
we have been told several times
that gators do not attack in deep water
That is why people swim in the middle of the lakes
and water skiers
are in the water in these lakes
BUT I DO NOT TRUST THAT!
That’s like telling me BEARS don’t bite in the woods! LOL
It was a spur of the moment
lark that we went on!
SAW TWO GATORS AND A BLACK SNAKE!
along with birds horses – riders – and where
Wild boars ( pigs) dug up the ground
or some very GIANT MOLES!
Thank you for reading Papa’s World
WHERE FRIENDS MEET THE FAMILY !
THANK YOU!
