Alligators are mysterious as they are fierce. These reptiles have the glaring eyes of a dragon in fantasy tales and the slowness of the way they walk give them that seemingly regal aura. You can catch a glimpse of this ancient reptile with all its draconic glory if you take a boardwalk tour at Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park.
These reptiles normally flee at the sight of humans but it’s a different story when the alligator is a nursing mother. That’s because just like any other animal, an alligator’s maternal instinct props up whenever the mother senses any danger around. Mother alligators become protective of their young and may become aggressive towards visitors. In such cases, the people handling the preserve would know exactly what to do so as not to enrage the animal, so you’re pretty much in good hands.
If such an instance occurs, then that shouldn’t be a worry, since there are many more animals to be seen in and around Naples, Florida. You may encounter white-tailed deer alongside the highway while driving and long legged Ibises around the Ten Thousand Islands. Crying birds can also be found from time to time in Big Cypress National Preserve. You ought to be careful driving on the way there though, for there may be a group of Gopher tortoises that cross the street from time to time.
You are sure to see something new and different in the area of Naples, Florida because the entire region is just a vast green and blue wilderness. You can see this diversity in the beach, out in the Gulf of Mexico and even deep within the Everglades territory. There is a pristine beauty that you get in this experience and it is all real. It is as if the scenery changes every time you visit every path, every prairie, every waterfall, and every sanctuary and mangrove forest.
If you’re the type who could use a little walk, a trailhead can be found the Florida National Scenic Trail at the Oasis Visitor Center that’s a part of Big Cypress National Preserve, along Tamiami Trail. A lovely observation deck at this visitor center hangs along a clear waterway where giant gators roll. The preserve’s Loop Road begins to the west. Its first 15 miles are unpaved with stretches of washboard and some pot holes. But that’s where you see the most wildlife. Gators warm themselves up along the road and as you come close, rise and run off into the mysterious, forest-veiled waterway alongside. If you go ahead and walk further, we are more than sure that you can catch the sight of some soft-shell turtles, raccoons and river otters. Four panthers monitored by preserve officials range in the vicinity of Loop Road, so it would be best if we would be extra careful.
The region of southwestern Florida is teaming with wildlife in land, sea and air and they are all protected by the passionate researchers and volunteers that make the preserves and state parks possible. If you are an avid animal lover, you will never be disappointed here.
