Our first full day in southern Florida brought us up close (real up close) and personal with American alligators in an area of the Everglades National Park known as Snake Valley. We enjoyed a two-hour tram ride through these acres and acres of saw grass marsh. The tour guide was very informative and did not rush us through areas where birds and gators were. We traveled with Darlene and Jack, who have been coming to southern Florida for many years, and picnicked after our tour.
It was incredible to be so near these gators, that, when we see them on TV are so aggressive, but while passing by them on the tram, and even strolling on the sidewalks, they lie in an almost-comatose state and did not seem to be affected by anyone's talking or clicking of shutters. Our guide said that because they are nocturnal and dine alfresco all night, that the mid-day (when we were there) is when they are vegging out and the foods of the night before are being digested. Interestingly, alligators fear humans more than we probably fear them because their instincts are that we are dangerous to them. Ergo shoes, purses, luggage, etc... It was funny while going down the paved tram pathways to look at a distance and see what looked like tire treads on the road side... NOT.. they were resting gators!
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We also saw some beautiful birds, including the Great Egret, Little Blue Herons, Snowy Herons, Ibis'es, Great Blue Herons, and Wood Storks. New birds we learned about and saw were the Anhinga and the Cormorants. If you find yourself in this area of Florida, we recommend this tram tour of Shark Valley; but do not go in summer as you will not see much because the summer temperatures send the gators and birds to the cool, shaded hammocks. (LOL...not our kinds of hammocks!)
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