Alligators Scare The Crap Out Of Me {Everglades National Park}

Whenever we go someplace new, Scott loves nothing more then to list the animals we might see in the area that can kill us. He’s like a little kid – so excited at the possibility of seeing poisonous snakes, creatures with sharp, pointy teeth or animals that can crush you in their arms. Obviously, not your normal little kid. Because you average kid doesn’t dream about different ways animals can kill you. At least I hope not. 

Scott loves to wind me up and he knows that nothing winds me up more then the possibility of close encounters with animals that can kill me. Like alligators. So you can imagine how much he loved our visit to the Shark Valley Visitor Center in the Everglades National Park. Apparently, it is one of the best places in the Everglades to see alligators up close and personal. A little too close and personal to my liking.

As usual, we didn’t know too much about the place before we got there. Turns out one of the big attractions is to take a wildlife-viewing tram ride along a 15 mile multi-use loop trail. Alternatively, you can bike along the trail. We were too cheap to pay for the tram tour and we don’t have bikes, so we decided to walk part of the trail instead. At first it was pretty ho-hum as we walked along the Bobcat Boardwalk. And then we got to the main part of the loop trail and there they were – lots and lots of alligators sunning themselves on the side of the trail.



All of the gators were on the west side of the path, so I walked as close to the east side of the path as I possibly could. Which was stupid, because who’s to say there weren’t other alligators lurking in the bushes behind me.



Fortunately, it wasn’t all alligators. We saw a turtle. I like them. They’re slow. I can outrun them.



And birds. I’m of two minds when it comes to birds. Most of the time, they don’t bother me. But I have seen Hitchcock's movie The Birds, so I’m well aware that they can turn evil in an instant and peck you to death. These birds seemed harmless though. 




One of the reasons I love New Zealand is because there are very few animals there that can kill you. That’s why I’m so glad we’re permanent residents. We can always go back there to escape from the alligators. If you’ve never been to New Zealand and deadly animals scare the crap out of you, put it at the top of your bucket list.

I got the crap scared out of me by alligators at the Shark Valley Visitor Center on 9 February 2015.

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