I’ve done some crazy things to get photos but this may be the craziest thing I’ve done in a long time.

Recently Jo, my wife, and I were walking in Loxahatchee wildlife management area close to where we live in Palm Beach, Florida when we came upon this 8 foot ‘gator sunning herself on the path. Walking around her was not a good option at the time so the next best thing was to stop and take pictures of this willing ancient-looking model. Normally I don’t care too much for Alligators since we see so many in our excursions but today is different.

For some strange reason I decided to lay on the ground close to the beast, about 5 feet or so, well within her tail range. I was careful and quiet not to disturb her. I was able to take some pretty unique shots “face on” through the grass.

Before I could get back up off the ground a group of teen age kids came up and was standing at my feet. In hindsight they were a little too close too but, hey, I was sticking out there another six feet between them and Alice, even they knew the scaly beast would get me first. The kids were quiet, thank God!

As I finished taking pictures and started to stand up to move back, the Alligator blinked, then took one lunge forward and jumped right past me into the pond just to my left. One leap and she was almost airborne and gone, faster than you could blink an eye.

She jumped at least her entire body length in one leap, from a stand-still directly into the pond next to us. Needless to say, that it impressed the kids as they watched, and me too for that matter.

My plan for the pictures is to print and frame the head and tail shots in 16 x 20, then hang the head on the wall far left over the couch and the tail far to the right. In the center we’ll have a floral display so it will look like one, very long Alligator hanging on the wall.

Enjoy