The Usain Bolt of alligators

B

BrainOnSigs

Joined
Oct 14, 2003
Messages
249
This large alligator (I estimated at 8-9 feet) was in the Savannah Wildlife Preserve in GA. I do a lot of bird photography by the water in Florida where gators are just part of the scenery. If you are around them long enough you start to understand their postures and behaviors. This one was sunning himself on the bank of a tiny mud creek maybe 70-80 feet away. He was very calm, relaxed (or so I thought). I stepped down to the water's edge to take a few shots. I only took 1 or 2 pics then he snapped his head and looked straight at me. He then bowed his back (bad) , puffed out his throat (bad), took off in a full tilt boogie straight at me (yeah...bad also). I kept snapping pics until I saw him hit the water and closed the gap in half in a couple of seconds. I sprinted up the bank as fast as my 55 year old legs could motor. Later I notice that he had very long rear legs....some of the longest I have seen on a gator his size. D*mn he was quick!

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I would have been eating gator jerky or gator kabob, and would have had new sheath material if one of them charged me.

Wildlife preserve is one thing, something trying to eat me is another.
 
Been around gators most of my adult life and once you learn how to read the body language of a gator they tell you how they feel about you being in their company.
When one puffs up their neck it's a sign they want you gone...... now!!
Good move on getting yourself.....gone!!!
 
Bailey said it....I use to live on SW Florida.....he/she was just telling you to get the f away from their territory. Chances are another one was closer to you and you didn't know it. Ive been startled a few times in the everglades.
 
Crocodiles and gators have two different gaits. The sideways waddle with the legs very bent is what most people expect. But when they straighten their legs and stand up tall, they can run very fast over short distances.
 
Great pictures and thank you for sharing. I would rely on my zoom to get me as close to one of these creatures as you got. And I mean 500x zoom :)
Glad you fine.
 
A friend had one at least that big charge him one night while frog gigging in a slough off the Flint River. This guy practices at 100 yards with his S&W 629. The gator didn't make it.
 
Nice photos, & a good story to boot!

Scariest things in the UK are probably owls screeching. Nothing's going to eat you.
 
Ahhh that looks like it was intense! Happy to hear you got away in time. Beautiful photos by the way :thumbup:
 
Brain, I'm glad you're ok. Thanks for the excellent photos. Wow, I had no idea gators could run fast. :eek:

358 said:
A friend had one at least that big charge him one night while frog gigging in a slough off the Flint River. This guy practices at 100 yards with his S&W 629. The gator didn't make it.
Click to expand...
I was thinking a 44 mag would be a good choice in gator country.
 
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