Gators galore!

It's no problem finding gators in the glades. If I recall, there are about two million of them in Florida now. Back 40 or 50 years ago they were seriously endangered, but have been protected since then and have thrived. They're very adaptable and live everywhere from howling wilderness to golf courses. They do need water, so in times of drought they excavate "gator holes" with their strong, massive tails. These serve as sources of water after more level areas have dried up. In a serious drought, the gator holes become oases...the only wet spots in the area. As a result, many critters congregate around the holes at such times. This ensures the gator an ample supply of food while making survival easier for the other animals at the hole that the gator chooses not to eat which is most of them...he only eats a few times a week at most. Thus, the gator holes help every animal in the glades. A fine example of natures planning.

In one picture here the gator appears to be smiling as our tour tram stops so we can take his picture. But, he's not a ham for the photographers, he's not just saying hi, and he's not ecstatic over the prospects of a meal of nice, tasty human (mostly German humans on the tour). What the gator is doing is regulating his body temperature. Gators are of course cold blooded (most of them are repo men or lawyers) and they regulate their body temperature according to the environment. If it's very hot or quite chilly, they stay in the water where the temperature is more moderate. If it's pleasantly warm, which it was this day (about 80) they like to lie in the sun. If it's just a skosh too warm, they may stay in the sun but open their mouth to release a little heat, something like a dog panting, according to our guide.