Gators and other pests

If you've been reading the headlines out of Florida lately, you no doubt have come to the conclusion that we are either running from wildfires, dodging hurricanes, or becoming gator chow.

Actually, we've got a few more weeks til hurricane season officially begins . . . but, who's counting?!

The wildfires seem to have gotten themselves under control. The recent rains have helped a lot. Hopefully, they'll keep dumping water on us so we don't have to cancel Fourth of July celebrations as we had to do a few years ago . . . I mean, a man has to get his annual fill of fireworks, right?!

But, it's the gators who pose the greatest menace, apparently.

I mean, these critters are actually EATING PEOPLE!

I can't think of a worse way to go . . . unless of course we consider a shark attack, but you won't catch me out in the ocean anyway. Beach combing with a metal detector is about as close as I'll get to shark-infested waters.

But, back to the gators.

Would you believe the biggest gator ever found in Florida was actually found in my hometown of Apopka?

It's true. He was 17 feet & 6 inches long, and was over 70 years of age.

Of course, that was back in 1956. We don't have much need to fear gators around here anywmore. In fact, the last real animal threat we've experienced in this neck of the woods was the Great Mouse Attack of 1999.

But, I'll save that story for another day.