Amazing Survivor

[Amy DeStefanis]

Well, it looks like the Hillsborough River can be a rough place even for the guys at the top of the food chain.... I posted a new shot of my old buddy from last year: a one-eyed hawk, on the ETL forum, but also ran across this alligator today.

I was positioned in front of him (her?) when I noticed that something was different.... It looks like an old wound that's healed. If it were new, I'm sure my kayak would have been in a really unfortunate place! I don't think it's a deformity.

It's amazing to me that these creatures - the hawk, and this alligator, have adapted to their injuries, and seem to be healthy....

Amy D.

[Gus Cobos]

Wow...how sad...but hey, his is one resourceful and determined fellow...thanks for sharing...:cool:

[Axel Hildebrandt]

That looks like a very serious injury. Amazing that he adapted to it.

[Rich Phalin]

Maybe Alfred can help him out using his dental skills.:D

[Maxis Gamez]

Incredible. They swallow almost anything anyways!!

[Judy Lynn Malloch]

Wow what an incredible image and how amazing that he is still able to function. Many thanks for sharing Amy !! Nature is just awesome !!!

[Alfred Forns]

Amazing he made it Looks like a boat injury?

[Amy DeStefanis]

Amazing he made it Looks like a boat injury?

This part of the river is not really navigable for boats to speed through. We've seen canoes with small trawling motors, but fallen trees lay where they fall, and they only cut a small path through that really only a kayak or canoe could pass through.

I'm not sure how far alligators generally travel - but we've got the start of a drought here, and he might have come in to the river from elsewhere. Who knows, it could be a car injury, too.

Amy D.

[bikesolo]

Hi. I'm new to the site. WOW some great pictures !!

[Maxis Gamez]

Hi. I'm new to the site. WOW some great pictures !!

Welcome to BPN.

[Alfred Forns]

Big Warm welcome !!!! Looking forward to some of your images here !!! ... and a Happy New Year !!!

[Julie Kenward]

Wow, Amy...that really is something. I guess as long as he's got one side of his mouth working, he's good to go. Poor guy!

[Josh O'Donnell]

Wow, this is quite impressive...

Man how I miss living in Tampa, I loved taking a canoe up the Hillsborough River, such a beautiful float.