A road, really mostly a paved walking trail extends from the parking area east to the beginning of the "Anhinga Trail" that takes visitors out over the swamp itself. You can see part of the road in the far right of the picture as it goes by the south side of the slough. That side has no wall. There is nothing preventing wildlife, including the alligators, from crawling up the bank and enjoying a nap in the sun along side of the trail. And they do.
I happened to see a lady, from the North East based on her accent, take her small boy by the arms, stand him next to a 4 ft gator and back off to take a picture of the boy and relaxing gator. The gator popped one eye open as if to say "WTF!" as I yelled to the lady to get her son away from the gator.
She responded "Oh, no! That's a tame alligator. The government would never allow a wild animal to be this close to people!"
Luckily, said gator was sleeping off a full belly and the lady got her vacation photo without further incident.
People are stupid....and Tahoe bears aren't afraid of people. A few years ago a bear walked though the front door of the hospital in So Lake Tahoe and calmly gave himself a tour of the hallways. They really aren't scared of people anymore.
How are people that witless? Through years of careful training.
ReplyDeleteA case in point. Years ago I was visiting Everglades National Park's Royal Palm Visitor Center.
On the back side of the visitor center is a slough (pronounced slew) surrounded partially by a low stone wall. (see linked picture)
https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-florida-everglades-national-park-royal-palm-visitor-center-anhinga-107044521.html
A road, really mostly a paved walking trail extends from the parking area east to the beginning of the "Anhinga Trail" that takes visitors out over the swamp itself. You can see part of the road in the far right of the picture as it goes by the south side of the slough. That side has no wall. There is nothing preventing wildlife, including the alligators, from crawling up the bank and enjoying a nap in the sun along side of the trail. And they do.
I happened to see a lady, from the North East based on her accent, take her small boy by the arms, stand him next to a 4 ft gator and back off to take a picture of the boy and relaxing gator. The gator popped one eye open as if to say "WTF!" as I yelled to the lady to get her son away from the gator.
She responded "Oh, no! That's a tame alligator. The government would never allow a wild animal to be this close to people!"
Luckily, said gator was sleeping off a full belly and the lady got her vacation photo without further incident.
People are stupid....and Tahoe bears aren't afraid of people. A few years ago a bear walked though the front door of the hospital in So Lake Tahoe and calmly gave himself a tour of the hallways. They really aren't scared of people anymore.
ReplyDelete