There are plenty of alligators in Alabama. But how many enjoy a day at the beach?
One such unlikely critter was spotted riding the waves recently on Dauphin Island, bobbing calmly near the human beachgoers sunbathing and wading.
Matt Harvill, a 27-year-old Mobile resident, came across the lengthy gator on May 7 while at the beach taking pregnancy announcement photos with his girlfriend.
He said the reptile seemed to be enjoying the sun and gently breaking waves, attracting several beachgoers to get a closer look 鈥� but not too close.
鈥淚t didn鈥檛 hiss, charge or open its mouth at all,鈥� Harvill said. 鈥淚t seemed like it was kind of spectating and seeing what was going on.鈥�
Harvill snapped photos and videos of the gator to show family and friends. His garnered 3,000 shares.
鈥淭he things you never think you鈥檒l see,鈥� he wrote in the caption. 鈥淔irst time seeing a gator on Dauphin Island. Heading towards the west end be careful y鈥檃ll.鈥�
Alligators are found throughout Alabama in saltwater bayous and estuaries, said Marianne Gauldin, outreach coordinator for the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
鈥淚t is not unusual to see them in the Gulf of Mexico as they can tolerate a variety of salinity levels,鈥� she said in an email. 鈥淭hey are aquatic and cover long distances as they forage for prey items.鈥�
Harvill said he鈥檚 seen things like jellyfish or a dark fin slicing through the Gulf waters, but never an alligator.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 want to step foot in the water after that!鈥� he said.
Beatrice Dupuy, The Associated Press
