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Alligator in the Marina!  YIKES!

4/30/2013

2 Comments

 
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Gary, who lives on the boat across the dock from us has regaled us with stories about an alligator in the marina that supposedly swims past boats sterns.  Yeah right.  We've seen tons of manatees, dolphins, birds, turtles, even an armadillo, but until today the alligator was always just a rumor.  

As we're packing the boat to leave, David left with yet another load of stuff to take to the truck this afternoon and before I know it, he's back, breathless, "grab your camera, QUICK"!!!   OK, I'm always up to grab my camera -- wonder what this is about?   :)
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We get close to the end of our dock and this guy is lounging in the sun!  What?  You mean there really IS an alligator living in our marina?  Mark, the diver, that cleans our bottom, must be CRAZY!  Mark tells stories of being pinned against the seawall by manatees, but never chased by an alligator....
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And this guy's not small!  He swam around "D" dock, then over to "E" dock and down by the fuel dock before returning to "D" dock.  Such excitement in the marina!  Wonder if Mark will refuse to clean boat bottoms for the summer....   
2 Comments
JimB
5/1/2013 12:58:07 am

Eau Gallie yacht basin had one in the 70's that was the neighborhood pet. He'd rub up against the diver like a cat and follow everyone around the docks (from the water). They even kept frozen mullet so anyone could feed him. You'd spray water from a hose at a certain spot on the docks and he knew it was time for a treat. I remember the scary hiss that came out of his throat when his mouth was open waiting for you give him the mullet.

I heard his his warm friendly attitude changed when he got a mate.

Does anybody remember the alligator's nick name? I can't.

Reply
Tom McNulty
5/1/2013 10:48:59 pm

I have one hanging around my marina where my boat lives. My wife made the mistake giving it some food one time when we got back from a day sail. Now it expects food all the time. I had to reach close to the water and it thought I was feeding it and was coming for my hand. He is about 8 or 9 feet long.

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