I returned today to my favorite nature spot (since I was a child).
It was devastated by Hurricane Ian in late September, wiping out &/or re-distributing 1000s of acres of trees, lakes, river, and wildlife. It has only re-opened recently, most trails still closed, and camping restricted.
So.... here is my first stop, a place that was a small pond off of the river & lake (Myakka) where I've taken/posted many shots (mostly for context, sky, a few birds and gators). Today it looks like a small water hole, filled in with new grasses. Same with the larger lake, much smaller. A spot which is home to many gators was wiped away, and where the nests/mounds were built, it's now mostly grass with a few dark cave-like holes - and many gators nearby, so 'home' remains for some survivors. Many were out on the banks today, a very hot day.
So the good news is that (surprise surprise) gators are tough! ("Thick-skinned") But there's less water around, (and prey too) so they have gotten more densely packed. Another favorite spot was pretty much decimated, but the silver lining is that I found my old friends, thel lmpkins, feasting away on apple snails, so the snails are still around for the limpkins' diet, and now I know where the limpkins are hanging out, a few with young'uns in tow. It's not as nice as their old digs, but nature heals slowly, and thrives.
The small bit of water surrounded by new grasses where there had been water - this was a boat launch ramp.
