Shooting Two Ways, Part Two

Let's continue George Shiras' 1932 explorations down the Atlantic coast from Canada to Mexico.  We've read about the proliferation of deer, many varieties of birds, caribou, etc.  Mr. Shiras first visited "Cumberland Island, near the southern border of Georgia and just north of Fernandina, Florida," in the winter of 1895.  He taught me something new about alligators: "The alligators are large and numerous, causing havoc with the swamp-breeding birds, besides devouring young pigs, deer and hunting dogs when they cross the lagoons," Wild Life of the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts, National Geographic Magazine, September, 1932, p. 290.

Once in 1901, the author was on the shore of a pond, shooting birds for his dinner table.  A bird fell into the water and he couldn't find it.  He took off his socks and shoes and waded into the pond.  "So I started to mount a sunken log to look carefully about.  Suddenly the head of an alligator appeared between my legs and water splashed over me.  I had tried to mount a partly submerged 'gator, which resented such familiarity!" (pp. 290-291).  He decided that the alligator had eaten his bird and went ashore quickly!

He told his host about the incident and the host recommended he always wear socks and shoes when in the water - not for the alligators but for the water moccasins (big poisonous snakes)!  He then agreed to always wear something on his feet when in the water for "I could come out with a 'gator' on one foot and a 'moccasin' on the other!" (p. 291).

Turtles sunning in a Hilton Head Island marsh, February, 2014.

In his travels, Mr. Shiras encountered the huge loggerhead turtles on the coast.  There are signs now on the beach of Hilton Head Island that lights on the beach are not permitted after 10 p.m. due to the turtles coming ashore at night to lay their eggs.

The wooden pelican I bought in a Jacksonville, FL store, February, 2014.  I spent many hours previously on the beach at Hilton Head Island walking with pelicans flying to and fro endlessly.  They are such expert divers in the ocean!  However, they're very hard to photograph!

I very much enjoyed reading Mr. Shiras' article and am trying my best to follow in his footsteps, with exception of staying farther away from the alligators!