We had Gator for Lunch on Lake Tarpon Florida

Living in a small space with almost a million of our closest friends it's easy to forget that crowded Pinellas County Florida  has creatures that would love to have you over for lunch. With you being the main dish on the menu. 

It's really not the animal's fault though.  Ignorant humans like to feed wildlife. When these people feed a Great Blue Heron or the beautiful Snowy Egret a hot dog it is the bird that will suffer, usually a great deal, before they die.  If their ignorance runs more to larger game, in this case alligators, it very well could be the feeder or a child that perish.   You can probably guess my preference.

Through our long association with sailing we are more aware of our environment than most.  On a recent outing with our grand kids we stopped for a picnic lunch along the shores of Lake Tarpon near Tarpon Springs.  Some of the picnic tables are more in the water than near it.  We found one that jutted out into the lake a bit encased in huge Cypress trees .  A perfect place on a beautiful spring day. 

What didn't happen next can be directly attributed to our outdoor experiences.  If this scene had happened when we were new to Florida the result could have been tragic.