Alligator feeding on bowfins and don't miss the heron in video 2.

Moon Shadow · May 2021

Some good fishing action. Watched for a couple of hours alligators feeding on bowfins. The gators were probably all-around 8 feet and they were waiting for a chance to have a fish dinner. This was filmed at Payne's Prairie. Some of the bowfins are huge. If you want to see what the heron caught watch the second video. A big fish. Later another heron catches a fish in the middle of the gators, I thought that was it for Mr. Heron as the gators closed in on the daredevil bird.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=poOJ7e4C1Ns

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQLzCRsJ4Kg

gogittum · May 2021

Mind if I ask where you were at there ?? Good sized area, but I'd like to see that for myself and it's not too far away for me.

Moon Shadow · May 2021

gogittum said:

Mind if I ask where you were at there ?? Good sized area, but I'd like to see that for myself and it's not too far away for me.

Lachua trails in Paynes Prairie State Park. Located on the North Side of the park.

gogittum · May 2021

Thanks. On their site - "dogs not permitted." Oh well.

tankered · May 2021

Probably not the best place to bring a dog.

xmuskyguide · May 2021

Great videos!

capt louie · May 2021

That's some cool footage ! Thanks Moon

gogittum · May 2021

tankered said:

Probably not the best place to bring a dog.

I gotta agree with you, but I really want her to see an Alligator on the bank and in the water to get it into her head that there's danger in there. She jumped off the boat into the Withlacoochee when we were fishing and she's jumped into canals and ponds several times. Can't watch her every second and, as I said in another post, she's getting sneaky about it now.

Is there another place I can access that would let me accomplish that while still giving me (and her) an escape route ?? She would also very definitely be on the leash.

tankered · May 2021

I can't really think of another place offhand that will have so many guaranteed gators.

I'm also not sure if your tactic of letting her see them up close would work, she might just get more curious. In my experience dogs either have swamp sense or they don't, and much of that depends on the breed. I've always had southern-type hunting and herding dogs, Catahoulas and the like, and they are VERY cautious about water. Labs, shepherds, etc.,...not so much.

gogittum · May 2021

I hear ya. Pretty clear she doesn't have Swamp Sense - she's a Desert Dog, after all - but I think it's worth a try to educate her under controlled conditions. Maybe it'll take, maybe not, but worth giving it a go. Her sneaking behind my back to jump into a canal certainly isn't controlled.....nor advisable. Hate to see my girl end up as lizard s.h.i.t.

Sixth Generation · May 2021

Gogitum, I would be extremely careful trying to introduce a dog to what a gator is... Especially when they are in a feeding frenzy like it appears in the video. I had a close encounter with an 11 footer in the back yard Sunday. My daughter and her dog (goldendoodle) were in the back yard and she was throwing a ball for him. I was cleaning the pool. She was about 20 yards from the lake shore. I looked around to see him come up right on the shoreline. I immediately got her to come up on the pool deck with the dog. I walked all the way to about 4 feet from him before he rolled out of there and scooted out into the lake. They are on leash only now and no going down near the lake. I have applied for a tag for second phase since I heard if you draw Orange County you now can hunt in any body of water in the county this year. If I get drawn, he will be a good one to remove.

gogittum · May 2021

That goes without saying. I think I've made it pretty clear that I'll be Very Careful.

Sounds like you need to invest in a good fence there.

Sixth Generation · May 2021

I would but we do not have any houses on the far side of the lake. I wouldn't want to mess up the view. I will either get to harvest him, and if I do not get drawn I will call a trapper to come get him. He was definitely interested in the activity in the back yard. That is not good.