Huge Alligator at Hillsborough River State Park near Tampa, FL 11/15/09

I was hiking on the Florida Trail at Hillsborough River State Park and saw this huge alligator down by the river soaking in the sun. It was pretty intense being only about 25 feet away from a huge wild gator. There are no fences or any kind of barriers so if it wanted to eat me for lunch it probably could have. I tried to get closer to it but it very quickly jumped in the river and swam away. ;-)

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• hillsborough river state park
• florida alligator
• alligator
• florida park
• florida hiking
• florida trail

[RKO1585]

i'm not sure...but i think this one is dead. they usually lay all the way on the shore to bask in the sun or they're all the way in the water. plus he doesn't look like he's breathing.

[tampafloridabeachbum]

Trust me, he was definitely alive! lol. I tried to walk over closer to him to get a better angle and get some closer pics and he very swiftly and fiercely jumped into the water and swam away.

[theorunmilawisdom]

H---SHITT , he loos like a peace of a tree D-=P

[Inquisitor53]

@drumgodmaggots Correction: The name is "Ol' Moe". It isn't him as he very seldom hangs out in that part of the river (two bends upstream of the canoe launch). Since the park was created in 1936 & when you posted your reply in 2010 that would make him 74 years old then. Since the longest gators live (even in captivity) is 60 years, he could not have been there since the beginning.

[Inquisitor53]

That was one of the big females, just a little over 9ft. I know her, she's okay. Don't mess with her and everybody has a good day all around. How do I know? I've been the canoe tour guide there for at least 6 years & grew up on that river.

[drumgodmaggots]

haha he's still very much alive. his names big moe lol he's been at the park since the beggining