Blackwater Creek

You would think I had seen this before, but today I saw an alligator trapper in action for the first time. At the kayak launch at Seminole State Forest. I missed the best part. The capture. According to the trapper, a father and daughter, who had been fishing, reported it had been coming on shore, near them, the last 2 days. Dad called the Forest office, who called the trapper. I saw it as I carried my kayak to the water. I thought it was dead. Until it moved. I asked the trapper why it was so lethargic. Did he stun it? No, it was just worn out. I asked if it would be killed. No, Gatorland pays him $1000.00 for 10 foot alligators. If he sold it for the meat and hide, he would get $30.00 a foot. He also said he does not like killing big gators. As they help keep nature in balance. Eating smaller gators, snakes, and more. He took pictures, and measured the gator for Gatorland. 10 feet, 8 inches. In bare feet. The trapper's not the gator. I told him he should get the duct tape company to pay him for endorsing their product. "This tape is so strong, I work around big gators in bare feet" He winched the gator up to his truck, but was going to have his partner come with a cage. "Too many broken tailights" he said on the phone. From gator's tails, I assume.