The Ocean's Way by Elaine Donadio

Author:Elaine Donadio
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: rescue adventure, friendship friendly bonding funny sad, friendship adventures, environment and nature, environment impact, growth and renewal, girls ages 9 to 12, family disappointments, new york city girls, pilot whale rescue
Publisher: Elaine Donadio

Chapter 12- Alligator Apex

It was time to say good-bye to South Beach and drive to our next destination. Florida’s wetlands are so important that we didn’t care if they temporarily took us away from the ocean.

Our host, Maria, met us at the main gate at precisely 10:00a.m. She was wearing a khaki-colored uniform and what looked like work boots.

Ms. Costa mumbled under her breath, “It must be nice to come to work in shorts.”

When I smiled at her comment, she whispered to me, “You didn’t hear me say that.”

“Say what?” I answered. Two could play this game.

She smiled back at me.

“Welcome to Alligator Park. I’ll be your escort today. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask,” Maria said.

“Where’s the electric cart?” I wondered.

“Sorry about that. The park is on the small side, so it will be a lot better if we just walk.”

I was disappointed. I was getting used to being spoiled.

“When is the alligator wrestling?” asked Ms. Costa.

“I thought we would catch the show at 1:00p.m. if that’s OK.

“I have a question,” said Mom. “Do you also have crocodiles here?”

“That’s a very good question. Yes, we do, actually. The Florida Everglades is the only place in the world where crocodiles and alligators live in the same ecosystem. But they don’t live together,” Maria explained.

“Why not?” I asked.

“Alligators live in fresh water, and crocodiles live in salt water. They come together only in a small section of the Everglades where the fresh water and salt water meet.

“You said ecosystem before, but I don’t understand what that is,” Jasmine said.

“An ecosystem is a unit of plants and animals interacting with one another and their environment.”

“Is that like a biome?” I asked.

“A biome is made up of many similar ecosystems,” Maria replied. “So the biome is the larger unit.”

Mom called out in excitement, “Look. There’re peacocks strutting around with their feathers fully displayed.”

“Quick, get the camera out!” Jasmine ordered.

We raced towards the peacocks. Our host added more information while I snapped pictures. “Peacocks are males, peahens are females, and peachicks are the babies.”

We walked around for a little bit to pass the time. While the adults sat down for some cool drinks, we went off on our own. We took pictures of each other with our faces sticking out of wooden cutouts of alligators. We wandered into the gift shop and found some really cool, unusual alligator trinkets and crafts made by the Miccosukee Indians.

When we finished, we followed the sound of familiar voices to the snack bar, where my mom, Ms. Costa, and Maria talked and laughed. “Holly, I was afraid you were lost,” my mom said when she saw us.

“Mom, this whole place is about twenty feet long.”

I hate when my mom gets overprotective.

Thankfully, Maria changed the subject. “Does anyone have any questions?”

“What do alligators eat?” I asked.

Maria answered, “Alligators are carnivores and usually hunt silently at night. They eat fish, frogs, birds, raccoons, and even deer.”

“How can an alligator sneak up on a deer?” Jasmine asked.

“Alligators are camouflaged when they swim underwater.

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