The Tracks

One early morning, as the animals at Cypress Gardens were waking up, Melanie and I saw some interesting mud tracks on the path near Pedro’s exhibit. They contained what looked like elongated feet and a tail slide, so our first thought was small alligator. Now this would not be incredibly unusual. We had Tripod, as you probably guessed a three-legged four foot gator, living there for 3 years. He felt misplaced and out-competed in the big swamp and decided his uniqueness was better suited in a smaller space with no competition. One year he just stopped coming. Maybe he found a new home getting too big for the little pond or maybe….. , well this is a happy tale so I won’t dwell on the other options. Anyway back to the tracks. As we studied the tracks some more we finally found some front foot prints. These prints had definite pads and right away we knew it was an otter.
The search was on. No luck. So we figured we missed him and would need to come out earlier the next morning to see him. No luck. How early must you get up to see an otter? We figured they probably get up and hunting before the alligators begin hunting them, so 7 a.m.? Melanie tried it a few days later and eureka! I tried it for a week, even once getting out there by 6:45, not even a track, so I left my camera at home. It’s a sort of rain dance like when you wash your car and there is a downpour. Leave your camera at home and you will see an eagle swoop down out of the sky and catch a fish that just happened to be leaping out of the river at the same time (I know you nature lovers all know what I mean). I snuck out of the Aquarium front door and sat on the walkway with my coffee and up pops the otter. Wow! Sleek and dark with intense eyes seeming to question my presence. His playful nature got the best of him and he snorted water at me. Figuring I guess that I wasn’t much of a threat, he went on about his day and eventually headed off to his hiding place in the swamp.
Those of you who have had the pleasure of witnessing an otter at play know what its like to see true happiness. The otter looks as though he has not a care in the world. They are naturally curious and, if approached calmly, may even involve you in the festivities. That is why it has been such a treat to follow our friend’s tracks around in the morning in hopes that we will catch a glimpse of him slipping through the overgrown pond, or watch as he pads around on land, nose constantly on the ground in search of a snack or a fun rock to push. That is the way of the otter see; he never takes life and lunch so seriously that he overlooks the joy of the simple things. Well looky there, a take home message. Live life like an otter. Until next time,
Life’s a Swamp!