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Florida wildlife? What does that include? Would there be mallards and people fishing if there were alligators? My friend, who has a shady history of talking me into things I wouldn't normally consider (actually, that's one of the things I like best about her) assured me no ducks would coexist alongside alligators. Wildlife, she insisted, meant things like fish and the little lizardy things. I believed her. Sort of. So I asked at the desk.
There are alligators in every body of water in Florida they told me. Why worry? They sleep at the bottom and won't bother you. Only worry if they come up on land when you're down there.
Come up on land? What? Maybe we should have booked in Disney. I didn't worry long because that's when a man with a heavy Southern drawl began talking about catfish a
7 Comments on Postcard Blog, last added: 8/13/2011
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Yikes!!! No way would I be fishing that way either! *shudder*
I'm glad it was such a great vacation. But there are reasons I'm glad I live in a cold climate.
Whenever we visited our cousins who lived in Florida, they regaled us with tales of water moccasions multiply fastening themselves to some poor guy's foot when he was waterskiing, and how fast alligators could attack even when they were full. No way I'm going to try hand fishing.
Anne,
Have you read Karen Russell's Swamplandia!?
It might be right up your alley -- and would be fitting right after this trip.
Warmly,
Nathan
Aww, Jemi, just cause they bite and you grab them by the mouth to catch them? I actually can't believe people do this. Can't believe it.
Cold weather kills bugs, too, Marcia. The mosquitoes here are HUGE.
Gator Tales abound here still, Mary. They are only second to snake stories. Hand fishing is not only something I wouldn't try either, it's the kind of thing I would dream about then wake up and not be able to sleep.
Hey Nathan!
I haven't read that, but it's a great title. Pretty much sums up much of my thoughts about things I have witnessed on this trip.
This is the first I've heard of hillbilly hand fishing.
I once went boating, in a very small boat, in a lagoon to later find out an alligator was living there. I thought it was so creepy. I have no problem being in a larger boat surrounded by gators, though.
I'm thankful that I don't live near any canals or lakes. Some people have alligators invading their backyards.