Alligator Plates

Loxahatchee Road, south Boca Raton entry into the Everglades, homes alligators. This is my personal snapshot taken off the low gradient banks. Before taking such a shot, I make sure nothing besides me and bugs are in the tall grasses. This alligator is not the biggest I’ve seen. No matter that it’s not a trophy winner for size, it is deadly.  I’d guess it’s about 12 feet which usually weighs close to a thousand pounds.

Those omnious ridges along its back and tail are made of leathery skin tightly draped over bone. The plates of the alligator are radiant heat attractors.  They remind me of the old metal radiator ridges from back in the Bronx 1950’s. Back in the Bronx, I visited alligators in the Zoo. The Reptile House let them slither all over each other in a large congregation. Here in Florida, I’m on equal grounding to the master of the slither-on-fours.

“Alligator Tales” tells the stories of the people who live with the gator here in America.

Further north off State Road 7 (also known as 441) is the Loxahatchee Wildlife Refuge.  That’s where alligators sunbathe like primordial beauty queens. On a wintery  day, what looks like a torn tire with good treads is really an alligator doing nothing. And years ago, one gator became road kill on 441. I felt offended when I saw that. Something sacred about the ancient gator shouldn’t be run over by modern vehicles.

From research I found that the Seminoles name one of their clans after the alligator. My initial knowledge and handling of alligators came from one man who lived among the Seminoles.

Yes, this is my photo of Martin TwoFeathers taking a photo of his pal Joey. From Joey’s smile, I’d say they’re both enjoying being lounging lizards. Martin told me he feeds his gators with kosher chickens because he won’t feed them with hormones. I don’t think any jewish butcher or koshering rabbi considers their customers to wear their plates on their backs!