Loins, and Tigers, and Crocodiles, OH MY!

​Since being in Florida, I have developed a bit of a fascination with crocodiles. My local friend, Kelley, took me on a little adventure day to the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Where I got to see these beautifully intense creatures up close. As we slowly drove through the park, we kept our eyes open for a pair of dinosaur like reptile eyes peeking through the shallow swap lands. I spotted the first one, a little guy chilling next to a large tuff of grass. Kelley spotted the next much larger one, gracefully gliding through the water. As I jumped back into the car after snapping a few shots, I excitedly announced:

​“Now we just need one to jump out of the water and snatch up a bird!” 

Kelley laughed, “No, not gunna happen.” 

With the magic hour of sunset quickly approaching, we stopped at a lookout area and started to stroll around the narrow paths. Suddenly, I heard Kelley yell for me to come over. She was motioning at the ground in a Vera White fashion.

“Look it’s a slide and a big one! He’s gotta be near by.” 

I stared at the smashed grass and the obvious entrance point the gator had taken. Then as if we had stepped into a national geographic, I looked up just in time to see a very large crocodile leaping out of the water with a medium sized brown duck just barely escaping his razor sharp teeth.  The large beast slammed into the water continuing his hunt. Within seconds we watch as he disappears behind a large tuff of tall grass, the green foliage shaking and thrashing as the enormous creature devoured his pray. 

Kelley and I bravely walked around the view blocking plant in hopes of seeing more. Being not more than five feet away, the entire body of the six/seven foot gator was completely exposed. Kelley and I stood frozen staring at the intense animal as he glared back at us, with one leg propped on shore, he leaned the slightest bit closer in our direction. With hearts racing, we scurried away from the scene of the crime and I declared to Kelley, “Yeah, I don’t think I want one as a pet after all.”