Greetings from Alligator Bayou to all of our friends !! We hope this dispatch finds you all healthy and happy. We've been busy here in the last year. Our snapping turtle exhibit that Frank designed has really taken shape. We've got the big turtles in their new pool along with fish, snakes, frogs and a couple of stray turtles we found on the road. The sculpture on the pool by Craig Black is absolutely amazing. He used mortar mix and a 4" putty knife to create a realistic swamp habitat. Frank's bulkhead and deck design truly set off the pool perfectly, and thanks to David, Eric and Blaine for the hard work and exact cuts to get it done!!
Our new alligator exhibit is also under construction. Another sixteen or so gators will be added by summer's end, and we're hoping the wading birds will notice the rookery area we are including. We've already got one gator from the bayou (Little Bit) whose moved into the ponds. We're still in the planning stages for the restaurant. The location is behind the Braud home where the new bulkhead has been built. The bulkhead will help reduce erosion and silting into Alligator Bayou.
We've been seeing gators out in the swamp now, too. We spotted several of the females out from hibernation, and we've seen three babies, too!! March 17 we got our first sighting of the male gator who swims Alligator Bayou during the breeding season. We're waiting for our prothonotary warblers to show up any day and build a nest on the boat (for the fourth year). The wood ducks are laying eggs. Spring has sprung and we can't wait for babies!
On a more somber note, we had a guy who actually came in and told of his exploits in Bluff Swamp frogging and taking baby alligators "for the fun of it". What's worse, he happens to be the son of a famous local wildlife legend.
We're hoping this newsletter will become a regular feature and that you enjoy receiving it! Thanks to all of the supporters and friends we have made during the past years - we love our jobs because of you all! Remember, the fiercest reptiles sometimes happen to walk on two legs!!
Later, gator!!
Jim & Frank
