So…we are on this nature trail in the Everglades National forest and it is more amazing than any we have ever experienced before. Dozens of different species of birds and animals all around us….in their own home sharing the same path, including the many full length alligators swimming or sunbathing with us.

Most of the gators were just chilling in the water and canals next to us. However, some would move about. We had one very interesting encounter with one.

We came upon an alligator who had just captured a full size turtle in his mouth. The kids weren’t happy about this and started telling the alligator to let the turtle go. The alligator started swimming along the canal with his dinner and we followed alongside. I was thinking this may not be great for the kids to see, but then also thought it may be exactly what they should see.

As we followed the alligator alongside us with his prey in his mouth, the turtle would lift up his head out of the water from time to time to get air.

The kids kept saying to the alligator to let the turtle go as we followed.

Then a lady with her family who just joined up with the scene with her four year old, kept laughing and saying it is the circle of life!  Upon which after the fourth time Gia started getting agitated and said “Okay we get it, why do some people have to say it is the circle of life over and over. We get it…why not have some sensitivity” (after a few moments Gia then decided to hold back from the group to calm down a bit. 🙂

We continued to follow the gator and his prey when he suddenly came to a stop in the canal and turned toward us. My kids kept talking to the gator to let the turtle go and the lady’s four year old then started doing the same!

The gator then came up to the bank of the canal and was five feet from us. He suddenly rose up out of the water, looked at us, and flipped his whole head back and forth slamming the turtle against the water each time as if to knock him out.

Suddenly the turtle broke free and took off!  The kids cheered. The gator looked very mad and turned his whole attention to us. He took two steps up the bank toward us and we all stepped back to match. We were told that if we were 15 feet away we could probably out run them, because while fast, they can’t sustain it. Of course, we were only five feet away, but somehow felt we could handle it.

After a staring contest, the gator turned back to the canal and swam away.

The kids were excited and happy, and felt that yes, they had been part of the circle of life. However, one in which the turtle won to play another day!

Later we had another adventure with vultures when leaving. A group of a dozen vultures attacked a motor home in the parking lot chewing away at the rubber roof. Understanding the rv lifestyle and impact to the owners, we ran up screaming, chased them away, stood guard, and then searched the park and found the owners so they could continue their own journey from Michigan.

An interesting day for sure! Wanted to share it with you.

The Wandering Webers…Grace, Hope, FaithJean, Chuck Jr, and mom and dad.