What’s that gator doing?
One of the most common questions I get on boat tours is “are we going to see an alligator?” While alligators are a common sight in and around Lowcountry ponds we rarely see them in the estuary. Alligators are freshwater animals and prefer not to enter salt water. Following a period of heavy rainfall or extreme drought small/weak/sick individuals are washed or pushed out of their lake homes and find themselves in our saltwater creeks. It’s not usually thrilled to be there. Some theories say that gators may take a saltwater “bath” to remove freshwater parasites. The first gator I came across in saltwater was resting next to the dock on Bulls Island in Cape Romain. The ferry passengers weren’t impressed. Then there was the one who climbed out of the surf near the Folly Beach Pier. If you see…
May 7, 2019