Looking for Love in all the Wrong Places ~ GATOR!!!

It was a beautiful, cool, sunny morning in Mt. Pleasant, SC. I looked out off our upper porch to our pond across the street and what did I see but the large head of a gator in the water. We haven’t had one in our pond for a number of years, so I went running down with my camera to get a few shots. Little did I know that this gator was on the prowl.

So I went back inside for a short time. My curiosity got to me and I peeked out the window to see him climbing up the bank. As I got closer he backed into the water. I went back inside for just a bit. Again I peeked out and this time it was already across the street on our side of the road in our neighbor’s yard! And it was a big one!!!

Out of concern for all of the neighbors and their kids, and of course to get a few action shots, I decided to follow the gator and see what he was up to. I texted Jen and told her that I was hot on its tail!

Neighbors started coming out of their homes also concerned about the dangerous situation. After staring down a metal fence he changed course and decided to meander between homes that did not have a fence. It was heading to the back alley!

I heard people yelling at kids on their bikes to stay away, that there is a gator on the loose!

It crossed the alley and hid for awhile under a Bronco parked in a neighbor’s driveway. Then it approached an open garage where a couple of carpenters were working. In went the carpenters and down went the garage door.

The gator thought about climbing the home’s metal fence or busting in. It was the only thing in the way of him finding his way back home. He had traveled to our pond looking for love, being mating season here in South Carolina.

Two of our braver neighbors plotted a brilliant plan. As one distracted him the other opened the gate to the metal fence on both sides of the property. As they backed off from the gator the gator turned, saw the opening and his big chance to make a break from all of the gawking people. It was time to get out of the sun, out of the spotlight and head home.

We all followed and watched him cross the sidewalk, cross the street, cross another sidewalk and walk quickly down the bank into the water.

It was a beast! Large and prehistoric looking. His smile was rather toothy with some large fangs. Not exactly portrait worthy. I won’t be painting him anytime soon! :)