Myakka Re-visit # 2: Alligators in Nesting Area

Here is a post-Hurricane Ian nesting area populated by the many gators of Myakka River and Upper/Lower lakes.

There are many surviving 'gators - they're tough! - and with less water habitat, they may seem to be more dense-packed.

Here the bright green grass with which they are nose-to-nose, had been under water, and the dark holes (lower right) are now visible vestiges of their usually hidden nesting mounds

Ch-ch-ch-changes.
But nature revives, in time.

#fenfotos #myphoto #alligators #gators #Myakka #FL #photography #nature #HurricaneIan
Photos by Fenichel: http://fenfotos.com

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.

#myphotos #Myakka #Fenfotos #HurricaneIan

What happens when we put science and intelligent planning ahead of crass profit motive.

The sustainable community that survived Ian unscathed.

Even the solar panels survived.

Thanks to @Deb Zaccaro-Rojas for the original post.

#Intelligence #Sustainability #HurricaneIan

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXiYbCwefCA

“As those #batteries #corrode, #fires #start. That’s a new challenge that our firefighters haven’t faced before.”

Firefighters in #Florida are dealing with a new challenge in the wake of #HurricaneIan—waterlogged #ElectricVehicle batteries erupting in flames. https://www.theepochtimes.com/floridas-top-fire-marshal-warns-tons-of-waterlogged-electric-vehicles-catching-on-fire-after-hurricane-ian_4781135.html?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=minds

Florida's Top Fire Marshal Warns 'Tons' of Waterlogged #Electric #Vehicles Catching #Fire After Hurricane Ian