Crikey!

We have a lovely pond in our neighborhood - quite close to my house, actually (just a couple of blocks away). Clear Creek is just a few feet from it, and the two are connected by a culvert. And there are woods all around and ducks and it is quite pleasant. We like to fish there - we usually catch perch or catfish, but there are bass in there, too, and turtles - both of which we have caught a few times. But our pond's newest resident is a big ol' alligator! We estimate he is about 8 or 9 feet long. He's been swimming around in the pond or lying out on the bank sunning himself for a few days now. We have a floating platform out in the middle of the pond where the ducks like to sleep (and protect themselves from the coyotes that live in the woods), and Mr. Al E. Gator has decided it is a nifty spot to sun himself (see below). He's been getting a lot of attention from the residents - and the Game Warden. They have a trap set up to try to catch him and relocate him to a more gator-friendly area. So far he's not falling for that, tho. While it is a bit scary to have a big ol' alligator hanging out in your neighborhood, it's kinda cool, too. How many people can say they have a gator for a neighbor?? Just keep an eye on your pets and small children......