Cute Florida fauna

So, we were in Orlando Florida for a couple days this past week visiting Tom's family. The houses we visited tended to be in subdivisions sort of like this:


Lots of nice, similar-looking houses all in their own neighborhood, many with a sparkling blue lake in the backyard. Pretty.

Tom and I had a walk around one such neighborhood. It was a bright sunny day, and we saw creatures we don't normally see up north.

Just out for a neighborhood stroll, like we were.

We had to walk around the lake, of course.



Wait, what was that splash?

Um ... is that a ... ??

Really?

Well, isn't he a cutie?

Um, yeah.

So all these perfectly manicured, charming, safe little communities have alligators in their pretty lakes. In their backyards. With no fences anywhere.

Really, I was glad to have seen one -- especially a small, timid one like this little fella. Might not have been so amusing if his mommy had been nearby, however (!!!).

I guess it's just one of those things you're totally used to when you live there. No one we told about the alligator seemed particular fussed, so apparently they all coexist just fine.

It would certainly explain why we didn't see anyone swimming in any of the lakes!