Look What I Got to Play With!
By Jeff Moffitt
@moffittjc (121582)
Gainesville, Florida
June 17, 2018 7:31am CST
Well, I knew it was inevitable!
About a week ago I wrote a post about a woman who was killed by an alligator in Florida. Through the various comments and threads on that post, I had mentioned that alligators could be found just about anywhere there was a body of water in Florida.
I have a small field behind my house that serves as a buffer between me and the forest behind me. We've had so much rain over the past month that the field has flooded and now looks like a small lake (the only other time that happened was when Hurricane Irma struck last year). I joked in my comments that if the "lake" behind my house didn't dry up soon, an alligator would take up residence in it.
Well, sure enough, that is exactly what happened. I found this little guy sunning himself on the edge of the water a few feet (a meter or two) behind my house. I'm not sure exactly where he came from, but the nearest body of water to my house is a small stream that runs through the forest behind me. I imagine that's how he got to the flooded field behind my house.
Eventually, the water in the field behind my house will dry up and Al E. Gator (that's what I named him) would have to move on to wetter pastures. He would get big really fast, as there are a million frogs and squirrels behind my house.
I decided it was best to relocate him, since if he got too big all the dogs and cats in our neighborhood would become a tasty treat for him.
By the way, gators are fast and vicious when on the ground, but once you pick them up, they become very docile.
@migen1037 @pgntwo @thislittlepennyearns @johnroberts @LadyDuck @courtlynn @infatuatedbby @cintol @jamesHxstatic @JudyEv @LovingMyBabies @vandana7 @snowy22315 @YrNemo @caopaopao @id_peace @thesupersingh @popciclecold @andriaperry @UncleJoe @corbin5 @Juliaacv @poppylicious @Elizaby @ptrikha @rakski @sprite1950 @fayehazel
59 people like this
65 responses
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
17 Jun 18
I prefer to reside where there are no gaters out and about.
The little guy you have is cute though. Too bad they don't stay that small.
6 people like this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
17 Jun 18
In reality, alligators will only grow as big as their environment. So, if I built a small pond, or kept him in a giant fish tank or something, he really wouldn't get much bigger than that. They really are fascinating creatures, but I wouldn't want to keep one as a pet. All they think about is how they are going to eat you. Even though this guy is really small, he could easily bite off one of my fingers.
4 people like this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
17 Jun 18
@moffittjc I'd want to keep all of my fingers.
4 people like this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
17 Jun 18
@ElusiveButterfly But even if you lose one finger you still have 9 more good ones! haha
3 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29413)
• Eugene, Oregon
17 Jun 18
I see he already has some sharp little teeth. Good idea to move him.
6 people like this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
17 Jun 18
Yeah, those teeth are razor sharp! I'm willing to bet that he could have tore a finger off if I stuck my hand anywhere near his mouth.
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109846)
• Los Angeles, California
17 Jun 18
Don't play around sticking a finger in there!
3 people like this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
17 Jun 18
@JohnRoberts I didn't play around with him too much! I like keeping all 10 of my fingers!
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (68001)
• United States
17 Jun 18
At the Gator Farm they said that you can flip them on their backs, rub their bellies, and put them into a trance.
It worked with geckos. I wasn’t into trying it on a gator.
3 people like this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
17 Jun 18
It is true. If you rub their bellies, you can put them in a semi-catatonic state, That's what I did with this one when I first picked him up.
3 people like this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
4 Jul 18
@ramapo17 That was me playing it safe by ensuring that the gator was in a mellow state, so that he wouldn't want to bite my fingers off.
2 people like this
@cintol (11261)
• United States
18 Jun 18
OMG, look at those little teeth, bet those could take a good size chunk out. Aren't you worried that where there is one baby there might be a few more??? Mama can't be that far away ya know right!!! Oh, he might be cute but you can still keep those little critters. Thanks for sharing that with us though but I don't think I would be picking that thing up, baby or not.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
18 Jun 18
@cintol I'm not really sure of its age, but I guess they can grow at different rates depending on how warm it is outside, and how much food they have to eat. It's possible that this little guy is only a few months old (having been born early this spring), but I'm thinking it was probably hatched around this time last year.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
18 Jun 18
Judging by the size of this one, he's probably about a year old and out of the nest and on his own. Mama gator only guards them until they are big enough to capture food on their own. I did check around to make sure there were no other little ones around, nor the big mama gator.
1 person likes this
@cintol (11261)
• United States
18 Jun 18
@moffittjc That little thing is only a year old??? Oh my, they must not stay little for long huh, when do they start getting big? I would be nervous finding that one so close to your house.
2 people like this
@JohnRoberts (109846)
• Los Angeles, California
17 Jun 18
Amazing how small now and grow into monster brutes.
3 people like this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
17 Jun 18
They grow so big because they eat so well! And I've noticed that they will eat anything they can get their jaws around....fish, turtles, small pets, deer, my left arm, etc.
4 people like this
@mlgen1037 (29886)
• Manila, Philippines
17 Jun 18
Hi Jeff. Thank you for tagging us. So the baby Al acted like it was stuck up. Are there alligators around your place?
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
17 Jun 18
Normally there are not any alligators around my house, because there isn't any bodies of water nearby. But because of all the flooding from all the rain we've had, the alligators are out exploring looking for new homes. Somehow, this little guy ended up in my back yard. I relocated him to a swamp that was just outside of our city.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
17 Jun 18
@mlgen1037 They won't be a danger unless they get a lot bigger. But the water will dry up and be gone before they get that big, so there's no real need to worry. Once the water recedes, the gators will find another place to nest and make their home.
2 people like this
@mlgen1037 (29886)
• Manila, Philippines
17 Jun 18
@moffittjc The baby Al got lost and away from its mother. I pity the kid. But those will not be of danger to you there in case they decide to make it their new home?
2 people like this
@mommaj (23112)
• United States
28 Jun 18
You could have always caged him. Maybe if he grew up with you feeding him and playing with him he would have been nice. Well, then again, one day you could have become his lunch. LOL
I thought it was bad here. We got so flooded I actually saw a catfish cross the road. By the time I stopped to take a picture first and then put it in water, it already made it across the road. Those things are fast on land! LOL
1 person likes this
@mommaj (23112)
• United States
1 Jul 18
@moffittjc It was so fast, I didn't believe my eyes! I had to ask my daughter if that was a fish that crossed the road! I told my stepmom about it and she thought I was kidding. She said "oh, your serious!" LOL Guess I joke too much. 
My dad said they would sting if you touch their fins. Are they poisonous? I never knew they could come out of water.
My dad said they would sting if you touch their fins. Are they poisonous? I never knew they could come out of water.1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
1 Jul 18
@mommaj Their "whiskers" are the poisonous part of them. It does produce a little bit of a sting, but nothing that's going to maim you for life or kill you.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
30 Jun 18
Awesome, you saw a walking catfish! When I lived in south Florida we would see them all the time after heavy rains. They are fast little suckers, aren't they!
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (94914)
• United States
18 Jun 18
You see!! You mentioned alligators can be found in pretty much any bodies of water in Florida. 
Where did you relocate this little fella too? Hopefully no more show up especially if they get big easily!
Where did you relocate this little fella too? Hopefully no more show up especially if they get big easily!1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (94914)
• United States
18 Jun 18
@moffittjc He's a little fella. :) Hopefully they'll be nice. Do people go in that swamp?
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
18 Jun 18
There's a swampy area right outside of town nearby that I took him to. He'll be fine there as long as the other alligators don't eat him! lol
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
20 Jun 18
@infatuatedbby No, it's not an area people go into.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (471500)
• Switzerland
17 Jun 18
@moffittjc Those big gators are scary, I would not like too much even to handle a little one.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
17 Jun 18
@LadyDuck Is that the reason you left beautiful sunny Florida to live in Switzerland? So you could get away from our vicious alligators? haha
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
17 Jun 18
I don't think I'd be strong enough to pick up a 10-foot gator! And besides, if I got that close to a 10-foot gator, I wouldn't have any arms left to pick him up with! lol
1 person likes this
@bluesa (15022)
• Johannesburg, South Africa
5 Sep 18
@moffittjc 
no way would I go near a gator not even a little gator! Cute name you chose for him, Jeff. 
no way would I go near a gator not even a little gator! Cute name you chose for him, Jeff. 1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Sep 18
@bluesa Little Al doesn't bite, he's a very friendly fellow.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Sep 18
You wouldn't want to play with my little gator? 
1 person likes this
@rebelann (112877)
• El Paso, Texas
1 Jul 18
I thought that was a crocodile @moffittjc it seemed a little more docile from what you stated about gators.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
1 Jul 18
That would be pretty cool if it was legal to do so. When I used to watch Miami Vice back in the 80s, I always wanted a pet alligator since Crocket had one for a pet on the show.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
20 Jun 18
He doesn't know how to do anything else except bite and eat, so I'm sure he was trying to think of a way to bite off a finger or part of my hand!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
23 Jun 18
@nela13 They are actually very docile when you pick them up. They don't really try to move or escape, unless you try to set them down close to the ground.
1 person likes this
@nela13 (58669)
• Portugal
20 Jun 18
@moffittjc I wouldn't have the courage to handle it 
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
17 Jun 18
@vandana7 I like my mates to have sexy smooth skin. This one was a little too rough for me.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
17 Jun 18
If you're looking for a new pet, I can send you one! I have to warn you though, they like to eat a lot of food, and at some point your fingers will become a delicious snack for him.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
1 Dec 18
@Nevena83 Alligators are everywhere here in Florida, and some of them can get quite large. I'm not really afraid of the baby ones, it's the mommas you have to worry about! I am very careful when I am around water, as you never know when a big alligator is lurking below the surface waiting to eat you!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
1 Dec 18
Yes, he could bite me. As small as this one was, he could have bit my finger off if he could.
1 person likes this
@minx267 (15527)
• Hartford, Connecticut
18 Jun 18
@moffittjc yea I bet.. and they can't do as much damage either!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
20 Jun 18
@minx267 Tell that to the poor frogs this little guy was eating! haha
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
18 Jun 18
Yeah, they are much nicer when they are little!
1 person likes this
@flapiz (23148)
• United Kingdom
29 Sep 18
@moffittjc He sure is. Would he still grow big like crocodiles?
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
29 Sep 18
He is a cute little gator, isn't he? I hope he is living the good life in the little swampy marsh area I moved him to.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
30 Sep 18
@flapiz It would depend on his environment. Alligators and crocodiles will only grow as large as their environment will support. The swampy area I took him to is very small, and so I expect that if he survives and lives a good life, he'll probably only get to be about one and a half to two meters long.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40293)
• Laguna Woods, California
26 Jun 18
You are far braver than I am. I don't think I would have picked him up to find out how docile he might become! LOL
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
30 Jun 18
It's not the first time I've handled baby alligators. I've just always been around them, so it didn't bother me at all to have to pick one up.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
1 Jul 18
@DeborahDiane I'm not quite as brave as Crocodile Dundee. I certainly wouldn't want to wrestle any alligators in the water if I can avoid it! lol
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
1 Jul 18
I think the alligator I caught was somewhere between 8 months to a year old.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
2 Jul 18
@just4him It takes about six years for them to grow to maturity, which is generally when they can start reproducing. At that post, they are about 4-feet long. So they grow very slowly.
1 person likes this
@just4him (317041)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
1 Jul 18
@moffittjc They don't grow very fast then?
1 person likes this
@thislittlepennyearns (62494)
• Defuniak Springs, Florida
17 Jun 18
the picture wont load but I'm sure hes adorable.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
17 Jun 18
It's a cute little gator about a foot long. Found him in my back yard.
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
17 Jun 18
@thislittlepennyearns I don't know what a fuddpucker is, but I do know what a fudge-pak-er is! haha (I had to spell it wrong in order for it to let me post)
@thislittlepennyearns (62494)
• Defuniak Springs, Florida
17 Jun 18
@moffittjc it just loaded. he looks like the ones they have at fuddpuckers
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40243)
• United States
22 Jun 18
Ahhhhh! Nooooo. At least it's teeth don't look too big, yet. But it has a lot of them. Did it just let you pick it up?
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
24 Jun 18
Yeah, but I had to be very, very careful. Even at that small size, those little teeth can do a lot of damage. I snuck around behind it and slowly crept up on it while it was sunning itself.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
30 Jun 18
@FayeHazel Yes, they are cold-blooded. Those scaly bumps their backs and tails are actually nodules that store and retain heat. That's why they lay out sunning all day, they are absorbing and storing heat in their bodies so they can stay warm at night and in the cool water.
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40243)
• United States
26 Jun 18
@moffittjc I'd believe it. I bet those small ones could do a lot of damage, esp. to small cats, dogs ... oh that makes sense. They must be cold blooded
1 person likes this
