Alligator Appreciation Day

[Janet]

Just a friendly reminder we are having JulieAnne Tabone a Park Services Specialist from Payne's Prairie at PSSP to answer all our questions about alligators and Howard Nugent will have two alligators for us to see up close on Saturday Oct. 20th at 11 AM at Orange Grove.
There will be a brief CSO meeting during the morning around noon time.
Please try to attend both events.
Thank You,
Janet
PSS no cooking lessons will be given or recipes exchanged during the program. :D

[aw]

Hey, Janet. Could we get them to get the one out of Bonnet and show it to us instead? Then they can take her off somewhere else? Then let's get Bonnet open again. I like that idea.

We don't need em to bring alligators in, we need them taken out. :lol:

Or am I out of the loop and bonnet is open again?????

[Herbie]

Thats awesome, I wish I was able to attend but being in Costa Rica makes it a little difficult. Ever since my friend the Curator and I got spooked :o by an 7-8 foot alli that was laying on a ledge("gator ledge") about 20-25 foot deep at Buford, I have been wondering how deep can a gator go. I wrote the Park agencies and Florida Wildlife and Game people and no one had an answer.
Shoot I figure by now some scientist would have put one in a cage/net and lowered the poor specimen down until they blew up or something, you know space monkey style :twisted: . Until that day at Buford I belived what Mr. Sheck wrote in Caverns Measureless to Man that after 10 feet these creatures would not venture due to pressure , but I can testify that aint so.
I told TJ about it an he thought I was BSing (which I do like to do for reaction purposes) so he went as far as to say I never even found the swamp spring (probally jealous since he had not been able to priorly). So as we men do(a challenge), we agreed to go together. Well not only did we arrive at the spring (kiss my a$$ T) but upon descending what do you know, there it was. Well pics were taken and posted so there is no denying these animals can go deeper. So I am asking if anyone that might attend this meeting would be so nice as to ask ,HOW DEEP CAN ALLIGATORS GO?, and then post or pm the answer. It would be nice to know since its obvious these animals like to dive in caves also. Wow humans and gators having a common interest, maybe we can train one and use it to cruise caves instead of scooters(ecofriendly) although silting might be an issue. Anyways thanks for the info Janet, yall take care. :-D

[Kelly Jessop]

So I am asking if anyone that might attend this meeting would be so nice as to ask ,HOW DEEP CAN ALLIGATORS GO?, and then post or pm the answer.

I know at least 25',or that was the depth of the 8' one that I encountered.

[DavidP]

Janet,
Thank you so much for having Alligator Day
at Peacock Springs State Park.
David & I enjoyed it and learned alot about alligators
and other animals in parks. JulieAnne Tabone & Howard Nugent
from Payne's Prairie did a fantastic presentation.
Touching an alligator and being up
close and personal was exciting.
It was fun seeing the children there too enjoying
themselves, asking questions and touching the alligator.
Your Appreciated so much for setting this up,
Cynthia Penney
Live Oak, FL

[Janet]

This is for Herbie,
Since most gators are in river they do not go to deep, they have been seen at 35-40 feet deep, they can stay under water for 1:15, yes they can open their mouth while underwater-they have more than one throat, they start to reproduce at 6 years old and lay 30-50 eggs at a time and take 6 to 8 weeks to hatch.
Janet

[Herbie]

..Thanks Janet I appreciate the response. I have been in the water with gators and always feel abit more awake for some reason. Now I know forget the go for the deep escape is not an option . I can free dive to 40' but cant match an hour plus breath holding. Thanks for the great job you rangers do at keeping PSSP a special place for all, take care.

[Kelly Jessop]

Janet,
Thank you so much for having Alligator Day
at Peacock Springs State Park.
David & I enjoyed it and learned alot about alligators
and other animals in parks. JulieAnne Tabone & Howard Nugent
from Payne's Prairie did a fantastic presentation.
Touching an alligator and being up
close and personal was exciting.
It was fun seeing the children there too enjoying
themselves, asking questions and touching the alligator.
Your Appreciated so much for setting this up,
Cynthia Penney
Live Oak, FL

I agree Cynthia. It was great to see a program like this brought to the park,especially the community involvement. Enjoyable presentation,and a great job by Janet setting it up for everyone.