Alligator Pole-Camming In Florida

I am heading out a couple of days early for the May Wetpixel Oceanics trip on the Shearwater and was hoping (with a fellow Englander) to get a few extra shots in Florida. Looking to do something new. One Florida subject I have never photographed are the alligators. But I have been told that at least at the place where Jim Abernethy photographs them - it requires a permit (to shoot them with the pole-cam) which Jim has for himself but it is not transferable. I certainly have no intention of photographing them without the correct paperwork.

Does anyone know any more about this situation? Are there places you don't need a permit? I am not interested in just photographing them from topside - so we have to be allowed to polecam.

Otherwise we'll be at Blue Heron Bridge chasing macro!

Any advice gratefully received.

Alex

Gators are everywhere in the everglades and there are plenty of places for topside shots. There are some places that allow you to rent a canoe and cruise through the waterways. I couldn't get anyone from my family in a canoe to go with me the last time :?)...too many big gators! I think the bigger issue you have is clear water. So finding clear water and gators would narrow your search. I can't remember the place I went to a few years back but it was real close to homestead, or about an hour from Ft Lauderdale. I'll try and dig up the old photographs and see if I can identify the spot.

Alex,

You may want to try myfwc.com (Florida fish and game) maybe they can point you in the right direction. I've taken lots of topside pics of gators from my kayak here on the west coast of Fl, but I would imagine you need to feed them in order to get some pole cam shots.

Good luck!

Mike

First, there's Anhinga Trail in Everglades National Park (Homestead area) - its an elevated boardwalk - you could use a polecam there and would not need a permit, at least that I know of. Its elevated only a few feet off the water (depending on the water level) so it might be quite promising - although I might check first with the Park rangers to be on the safe side, that is, if you even see a ranger. I've been there a hundred times and have seen a ranger maybe twice on the boardwalk so I don't think you'd get much trouble from them. The water there is only a few feet deep and I've seen it quite clear, but also a bit murky at times. There are hundreds, if not thousands of gators, probably more like lots of thousands.

Everglades Alligator Farm is also right nearby, just a few miles before you get to Everglades Natl Park. Its a small, kinda rinky-dink place but I haven't been there in several years so I don't know the set-up for being able to use a pole-cam. They do have tours & shows & such. They also used to do airboat rides into the sawgrass but I don't know if they still do those. If I were you, I would call or do a quick visit first and speak with them about your plans and see what they can offer you for UW photo ops. If you can figure out how to get your setup underwater, they might let you photograph at feeding times. Now that would be cool.

Hope this is helpful and good luck.

and another tip - May in the Everglades - bring alot of mosquito repellant, alot.

Yeah you need some of the "Deep woods" stuff.

Lots of DEET.

Alex if your in the area I wouldnt mind going out for a few beers.

Jose

Alex, the NPS changed their rules a few years ago to include some sort of permit. I can't remember the exact thing as I didn't go for that shoot. You may want to check nps.gov for the latest ruling. I suspect if you are carrying your broomstick pole and get caught without a permit (as a pole cam would mean closer interaction and not normal photography), I'll be reading about you in the the local FL papers. The permits aren't expensive and pretty easy to get.

Forget the 'gators and come with me to shoot the nile crocs in Africa...

Thanks Drew for that info about the permits, I wasn't aware of that.

Here's the link for NPS/ENP filming permits: http://www.nps.gov/ever/parkmgmt/filmingpermits.htm

After reading this, page 2 about still photography, might help to email them to get clarification about sticking the camera in the water since it seems to me it would be considered a prop, but at least the fee for 1 or 2 photographers looks reasonable. http://www.nps.gov/ever/planyourvisit/upload/Film.pdf

Alex,

I have to admit I cringed when I saw your post. As a person who has seen a "nuisance" alligator trapped and taken away (to be sold for meat), I must admit I get sick to my stomach any time I see close, underwater photos of these intelligent animals.

Below, are a couple of links to articles that are very informative. Basically, it doesn't take much for people to call in an alligator as "nuisance" - and as you will see from the FWC article in 2007 10,000, yes 10 thousand alligators were caught as "nuisance" animals and slaughtered in one year, 2007, in Florida alone. This is in addition to those that are hunted with permits.

Usually nuisance gators happen because of people feeding them (which is illegal). But, in actually, any alligator that is over 4 feet and people see anywhere near any populated area, and even in more remote areas, can and usually is reported as a "nuisance" gator. The trappers are called, the gator is captured "alive", just for the show and PR - then the animal is killed and the meat is sold.

What has this got to do with u/w photographers who want pics of gators? Everything, as it is the boldest gators that get themselves into trouble. As one of the articles below states, not necessarily those gator protecting their nests, but those gators who have become accustomed to being around people (the article sites golf courses and recreational areas for example). Of course u/w photographers could unwittingly "embolden" a gator and pretty much sign his death warrant. Even in the more remote areas of the glades - actually no place is really remote any longer - but in the current drought situation, gators pushed out of the shrinking mud holes can wander into populated areas. So no one can be sure that gator that got used to people or cameras won't wander into a populous area and be taken. Also the gator hunters kill the bold gators - just the very gators that are likely to be photographed.

You can see why I get sick to my stomach any time I see a photo of an American alligator that was taken at close proximity, say with a wide angle lens (I do believe people can stay at a reasonable distance with telephoto lenses, usually). I have seen a couple of small gators at Crystal River and I never photo them as I get so sad, like seeing a doomed creature, do I really want to take its photo? I know as soon as it is too big to be "cute" it will be trapped and killed.

Upshot is, does anyone really want to put an animal at risk to get a photo? I'm sure that is not the intention at all, and I think it is just done because of misunderstanding, lack of data and/or thoughtlessness.

Here's link to FWC page where it says 10,000 "nuisance" gators were killed in 2007:

http://www.floridaconservation.org/NEWSROO...s_GatorFAQs.htm

And here is a link discussing gator control, and what actions tend to make gators a "nuisance":

http://crittercontrol.com/animal-facts-alligators.php

Best, Carol

Thanks for the information all. Advice from knowledgeable locals is always so useful in these situations.

You have all persuaded me not to pursue this. I had never considered the environmental issues that Carol discusses. I agree, I certainly don't want me taking photographs of any creature leading to it being killed. That certainly changes my perspective on the gator images I have seen from Florida. Also, the complexity of needing permits - which I am sure will be a pain to organise from overseas - is also dissuasive.

I guess it will be Blue Heron Bridge, or if my friend is not interested in that, sitting at home that day!

Alex