American Alligator
Brazos Bend State Park
Needville, Texas
One of the best places to see an alligator in the wild is just a few miles from my house at Brazos Bend State Park. According to this article, it is home to 300 American alligators . With numbers like that, it's a guarantee you'll see at least one gator and most likely several as you walk the trail around Forty-Acre Lake.
Did You Know?....
- The sex of the juveniles is determined by the temperature of the nest: above 93° F all are male, below 86° F all are female, and temperatures in between will produce both sexes.
- American alligators can live to about 50 years in the wild. After it is four feet long, an alligator is safe from predators except humans and occasionally other alligators.
- Alligators can tolerate salt water for only brief periods because they do not have salt glands.
That last fact makes me feel a little better about kayaking in the salt water marsh. Read more facts here.
Thanks to Vicki for hosting ABC-Along 2008. Sign-up details can be found here and here. Every two weeks I'll post a photo representing a letter of the alphabet.
See ya later, alligator! (I couldn't resist.)
Those are some neat facts! But I'm just as happy that I live in a place too cold for alligators!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the info. Never knew any of those facts. For me just the sight of that creature sends a little chill down my spine! Looking forward to the rest of the ABC along!!
ReplyDeleteA is for awesome alligator photo!
ReplyDeleteMmmm. Not my favorite animal. I don't mind seeing them in a zoo, seeing them swimming in the wild not so appealing!
ReplyDeleteGreat photo! But not my favorite animal either - too many teeth!
ReplyDeleteI would be terrified to kayak in waters that could have alligators. I am a total chicken about critters in the water. Here I only have to worry about beavers, and they usually slap their tale and swim away ;o)
ReplyDeleteI think your picture is about as closest as I care to get to one of those beasts. They are fascinating, though!
ReplyDelete