Puppies and kittens are cute. This also applies to bear cubs and baby ducks.
What about baby alligators?
It’s debatable.
Recently, award-winning photojournalist Andrew West came across a female alligator and her offspring, known in the wildlife world as cubs. West spotted an excellent photo opportunity, a rare encounter in the natural environment of the reptile that symbolizes Florida life.
It seems that people who live here or visit are always happy when they see an alligator.
On the morning of December 11, West was walking through the Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed when he saw the mother and young, or a pod, the term used for a group of young. It was a cool morning with temperatures in the 50s and 60s. Perfect sunny weather for alligators.
A baby alligator hangs next to its large mother on a cool morning Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024, at Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed. Baby alligators stay with their mothers for at least a year and up to several years.
What type of camera was used to photograph the alligator cubs?
WEST: It was a Sony A7IV with a 200-600mm lens, shot mainly at the upper parts of the focal length.
Can you estimate the size of the mother?
She was big. I don’t like to estimate size because I’m usually wrong. The babies seemed quite young, probably in their first or second year of life.
A baby alligator hangs next to its large mother on a cool morning Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024, at Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed. Baby alligators stay with their mothers for at least a year and up to several years.
You said you had unique access compared to other alligator photo opportunities. How so?
This mother and her young were in a waterway along a trail at Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed. It was a cool morning, she wasn’t that worried about me. However, I did keep my distance. I know alligators, especially mothers with babies, can be territorial. I think I was able to get some unique photos of her and her babies while staying safe and letting her be an alligator.
What do you focus on when photographing an alligator?
Every time I go out to photograph wildlife, I try to have as little distraction as possible from what I encounter while trying to come up with something unique. Alligators have been documented by me millions of times, and hundreds if not thousands of times. That’s why I try to see it as a creative art project. I was able to photograph this from the ground. I focused on the scale, babies and her teeth.
A large female alligator bares her teeth as she watches over her cubs on a cool morning Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024, at Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed. Baby alligators stay with their mothers for at least a year and up to several years. A drop of water forms on the teeth and falls.
In one of the photos, a drop of water hangs from one of her teeth. I’ve never seen that before. All this while keeping an eye on her. Animals can be unpredictable. I always take that into account when photographing. One of the reasons it was so docile was that it was fairly cool with overcast, patchy cloud. She waited for the sun so she could warm up. Enjoy.
More photos of the alligator boy, mother
Baby alligators huddle together under the watchful eye of their large mother at Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed on a cool morning on Wednesday, December 11, 2024. Baby alligators will stay with their mother for at least a year and up to several years.
Baby alligators huddle together under the watchful eye of their large mother at Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed on a cool morning on Wednesday, December 11, 2024. Baby alligators will stay with their mother for at least a year and up to several years.
A large female alligator watches over her cubs on a cool morning Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024, at Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed. Baby alligators stay with their mothers for at least a year and up to several years. A drop of water forms on the teeth and falls.
Baby alligators huddle together under the watchful eye of their large mother at Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed on a cool morning on Wednesday, December 11, 2024. Baby alligators will stay with their mother for at least a year and up to several years.
A baby alligator hangs next to its large mother on a cool morning Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024, at Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed. Baby alligators stay with their mothers for at least a year and up to several years.
Photo gallery: More photos
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Do Florida alligators attack people?
