What’s most people’s first reaction to this many alligators at one place in the wild? Myakka State Park is not a zoo. No fence prevents these gators from retaliating againt any human who foolishly wanders too closely. In the area, I’ve heard of close encounters but (thanfully) I’m not aware of any fatal encounter as humans. This is Deep Hole, a 2.5 mile hike from the park entrance before reaching the clearing and (depending on the time of year) 100s of alligators. Park rangers allow 40 people per day to hike Deep Hole. First come, first serve.

Shocking, isn’t it? If alligators are an unfamiliar oddity, you might be uncomfortable with this scene. This is Myakka State Park, old Florida look and feel with majestic oaks dripping with Spanish moss…and LOTS of gators. In the summer, you might swear no gators exist at Myakka. To escape the heat, 100s, maybe 1000s of gators, escape to the bottom of Deep Hole. The opposite occurs in the winter with cooler temps. Gators need warmth, pushing them to the shores en masse. Keep your distance.

Sometimes a close-up is all a person wants to see of an alligator.

It’s a rarity for white pelicans to drop in at Myakka.

The gorgeous Roseate Spoonbill looks like it came straight out of a children’s book with its bright pink feathers, red eye staring out from a partly bald head, and giant spoon-shaped bill. Nature lovers simply cannot get enough of Myakka State Park.

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Dictumst pulvinar montes rhoncus! Dis arcu, sociis, mus sit nunc lectus hac, vel et, vut! Ut? A diam nec lorem enim tristique penatibus aenean? Ac pulvinar, dis turpis, nunc elit et rhoncus rhoncus, platea diam vut, enim amet nunc nisi

Dictumst pulvinar montes rhoncus! Dis arcu, sociis, mus sit nunc lectus hac, vel et, vut! Ut? A diam nec lorem enim tristique penatibus aenean? Ac pulvinar, dis turpis, nunc elit et rhoncus rhoncus, platea diam vut, enim amet nunc nisi

Dictumst pulvinar montes rhoncus! Dis arcu, sociis, mus sit nunc lectus hac, vel et, vut! Ut? A diam nec lorem enim tristique penatibus aenean? Ac pulvinar, dis turpis, nunc elit et rhoncus rhoncus, platea diam vut, enim amet nunc nisi

Dictumst pulvinar montes rhoncus! Dis arcu, sociis, mus sit nunc lectus hac, vel et, vut! Ut? A diam nec lorem enim tristique penatibus aenean? Ac pulvinar, dis turpis, nunc elit et rhoncus rhoncus, platea diam vut, enim amet nunc nisi

Dictumst pulvinar montes rhoncus! Dis arcu, sociis, mus sit nunc lectus hac, vel et, vut! Ut? A diam nec lorem enim tristique penatibus aenean? Ac pulvinar, dis turpis, nunc elit et rhoncus rhoncus, platea diam vut, enim amet nunc nisi

Dictumst pulvinar montes rhoncus! Dis arcu, sociis, mus sit nunc lectus hac, vel et, vut! Ut? A diam nec lorem enim tristique penatibus aenean? Ac pulvinar, dis turpis, nunc elit et rhoncus rhoncus, platea diam vut, enim amet nunc nisi

Dictumst pulvinar montes rhoncus! Dis arcu, sociis, mus sit nunc lectus hac, vel et, vut! Ut? A diam nec lorem enim tristique penatibus aenean? Ac pulvinar, dis turpis, nunc elit et rhoncus rhoncus, platea diam vut, enim amet nunc nisi

Dictumst pulvinar montes rhoncus! Dis arcu, sociis, mus sit nunc lectus hac, vel et, vut! Ut? A diam nec lorem enim tristique penatibus aenean? Ac pulvinar, dis turpis, nunc elit et rhoncus rhoncus, platea diam vut, enim amet nunc nisi

Dictumst pulvinar montes rhoncus! Dis arcu, sociis, mus sit nunc lectus hac, vel et, vut! Ut? A diam nec lorem enim tristique penatibus aenean? Ac pulvinar, dis turpis, nunc elit et rhoncus rhoncus, platea diam vut, enim amet nunc nisi