I Wrote: These photos of Dave’s are fantastic to see.
Dave wrote: Hi Jim, Here are some more warbler pictures from last week. Yellowthroat, Black-thoated Blue, Black-throated Green & a Mourning Warbler. Dave
SOME OF MY STORIES FOLLOW: Nature has always been my life – out and about watching wildlife – reading the story that each animal has to tell about his life. (Now days I should write “His/Her” – if I write “Her” or “His” that is sexist – Oh well.)
Last week I saw that stubby died of Natural Causes. Maybe old age, maybe stress, maybe??? We who knew the gator called “Stubby” were very sad – he was considered a friend.
Oh, who is stubby – Stubby is 10 foot alligator that I have known for years here in our TGO community. I first took photos of him in the pond near hole 3 of our golf course. Lately it lounged on the shore of the pond in the Spartana section of our community. We called him “Stubby” because his right front leg was only a stub – I assume the result of fight or maybe an illegal trap? – What ever happened is his story.
Stubby’s passing made me think of animals I have known that just tend to get in trouble more than other animals.
Before I show some of my stories, here is a story I found on the internet: Charlie, a 120-pound Rottweiler could have gotten into trouble but he really did not get in trouble. Charlie was sitting in the front seat of the car when he got his foot caught in the trigger of Gilligan’s gun, accidentally shooting a round into his owner, Tex Gilligan. Tex suffered three broken ribs, a punctured lung, and a broken scapula, but he still forgave Charlie. Now that’s a friendship. See, Charlie did not really get into trouble.
This deer on my property on Drummond Island stood out from the rest because of a broken leg – He got our pity and became hand fed. I never found out what happened to his front leg. Maybe it is the result of his “Get into trouble” personality.
See what I mean in the photo below. The photo was taken a little later in the year. How did he get that flag caught on his full grown antlers? Anyway, since he was hand fed I was able to sneak up on him and cut the flag from his antlers – were he got it I never found out – I have seen flags like it flying on boats that docked down at the local marina – Maybe he tried to take a boat ride.
The hard shell of the turtle below has a story to tell about this guy getting into trouble with a passing golf cart – I bet. Guess where I found him – In the middle of the road of course – Does he have a “Get into trouble” personality? I made sure he was off the road when I left!
I cannot believe this one I saw today – just crawled out of a drain ditch filled with water. Nothing unusual – I see gators almost every day – but this one quickly turned and retreated into the ditch – Guess what – His right rear leg was just a stub! – I am beginning to believe this “stubby” thing happens when they are just young – I have read that old gators will actually eat baby gators – maybe these “stubby” guys are the ones that got away?
Leave a Reply