Blue Springs is one of Florida’s many state parks. It is known for it’s crystal clear swimming water, in season. It’s also a place where manatees take refuge during winter months (November to March). When the manatees call it home, there is no swimming.
Located in Orange City, I’ve been to this Spring quite a few times, but that was years ago. Now I don’t live so close, but we traveled there recently by boat, down the St. John’s River.
I woke up this morning to another alligator story coming out of Florida. A woman swimming in the Wekiva, or Wekiwa, River in central Florida had her arm bitten off by a gator. Subsequently the gator was found and killed.
Alligators are a Common Sight in Florida
First of all, swimming in fresh water in Florida puts you near gators no matter where you swim. Alligators are everywhere in Florida. I once saw one on the side of the road, at a busy intersection while driving home from the grocery store. I’m sure Floridians have many stories of alligator sightings. And anyone who lives in the state knows that they are in all the rivers, lakes and ponds, as well as occasionally along the side of the road.
People who go to Florida for vacation and stay in Disney World may never hear about the dangerous side of Florida life. They’re on vacation and really don’t want to know that Florida may not be as perfect a place as they think. At Disney I’ve never seen a poisonous snake or spider as big as my hand, but I sure saw them around my home.
Also sharks can inhabit the shallow waters along the coastline if fish are plentiful and news of shark bites can happen, especially among the surfers who visit the Ponce Inlet area at the jetty.
Image by WIlly Volk via Flickr
We had friends who’s son was bitten by a shark while surfing near the jetty. The sharks don’t mean to bite people, they get confused and surfers look like turtles to them when they are paddling out to catch a wave. At least that is what I’ve heard. Fish tend to be plentiful near piers and the jetty (a rocky outcropping of rocks) area so it’s logical that sharks would go there to look for food. Continue reading “Sharks In Florida”
