My Itchy Travel Feet - Latest Comments in Walk on the wild side at Florida’s Paynes Prairie State Preserve

Re: Walk on the wild side at Florida’s Paynes Prairie State Preserve

Donna Hull — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 15:04:08 -0000

Linda, I can't imagine picking up a baby alligator. There has to be a mama somewhere!

Re: Walk on the wild side at Florida’s Paynes Prairie State Preserve

Linda — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 11:57:42 -0000

Mine was with a gator too. My ex (and this story may give you some idea of why is my ex - loathe stupidity!), two boys and I were walking not too far from the road though, in the Everglades, when we came across a nest of alligator babies. The ex actually picked one up!! The boys and I just turned around and walked away very quickly (explaining quickly why he should not do that!.........sadly the momma gator didn't come back whilst the ex was actually holding her baby!

Re: Walk on the wild side at Florida’s Paynes Prairie State Preserve

Donna Hull — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 22:38:42 -0000

Thanks for the comments.

Beth, Jenny and Vera Marie, that alligator was scary. We had been told to walk behind any alligators that blocked the trail. And especially not to get between the alligator and his access to water. Well, his location made that impossible. On the way down the path, we were the only ones walking by and he was definitely asleep. So we made a wide semi-circle around him. The way out was a different story. Lots of people were passing, his eyes were open and he appeared to be ready to move. I opted for strength in numbers! You can imagine my sigh of relief once I had walked out of harms way.

Re: Walk on the wild side at Florida’s Paynes Prairie State Preserve

Beth Blair — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 18:56:20 -0000

Eeek! I lived in Louisiana and remember the roaming gators but never got too close to one, they mostly were in the water. Great photo.

Re: Walk on the wild side at Florida’s Paynes Prairie State Preserve

Jenny — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 02:22:44 -0000

The alligators just makes me wanna go there and not avoid them at all. Soon!

Re: Walk on the wild side at Florida’s Paynes Prairie State Preserve

Vera Marie Badertscher — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 10:54:31 -0000

Donna: Good story! I should be packing for my own trip to Florida, but had to tell you about my encounter with an alligator a few years ago. My attention was focused on a flock of birds I was photographing, and I cautiously stepped backwards to get a good angle. When I looked down, I had stepped to within 3 feet of a big alligator. Fortunately, he was dozing, or just not hungry!

Re: Walk on the wild side at Florida’s Paynes Prairie State Preserve

Sheila Scarborough — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 22:32:40 -0000

I used to live in Gainesville FL, and my first big travel writing break was an article about this part of North Central Florida. Paynes Prairie and Micanopy are wonderful; thanks for highlighting them!