Because Florida is located on low land, most of it has been developed from what can only be described as swamp land The Everglades is rightfully referred to as the “river of grass” and all of Florida contains numerous rivers, lakes, and springs. A number of the housing developments in Florida contain retention ponds and lakes in each yard or block usually created during development and construction to serve as a basis for development.
Such small ponds are great habitats for indigenous wildlife like other small alligators, which is something that the residents of the newly built elegant homes, of the contemporary hunting villa-styled neighbourhood, would not be expecting.
The man in this video feeds, bathes and ushers the local swans and their young ones, known as cygnets, into his yard and house to save them from being hunted by alligators that also reside in water channels around his compound.
The previous year, he even saw the gator trailing a cygnet and even grabbing it in his yard, in principle. He is so focused on shielding the fluffy babies this year that he has even invited the small birds into his home; he feeds them with water and vegetable paste to ensure the birds gain strength and remain large and formidable for the predator that lives and fishes off the coast of the island.
Raising Baby Swans
The young ones of the swan or cygnets mainly the chicks can leave with their mother for roughly six months after hatching. In this period, they master several essential activities in life such as swimming, looking for food and the ability to fly among others. In the first few weeks of life, the cygnets are helpless and are thus referred to as baby cygnets.
It moves slowly on the water; it can’t fly away and thus makes a perfect meal for the gators. And because mute swans such as these are an invasive species, they are not protected from predation by the Florida reptiles.
Alligator Habitat
Today Florida is among the most populated states and therefore penetration between human beings and the crocodiles has grown steadily. This is particularly the case in those developments that have created retention ponds as often seen in Florida housing projects or developments that front on water bodies.
It is so widespread that the Florida Fish and Wildlife Service has a “nuisance alligator program” throughout the state that relocates alligators that have threatened pets or people.
However, it has been observed that the program has certain limitations. The alligators must be a threat to the locals, or their pets—and the wild, invasive mute swans that have been introduced to this region, may not count as an issue. Also, the alligator must be at least 4 feet in length, but if it is significantly larger I should be able to find out.
Sadly, these cygnets have become some alligator’s snack but at the same time, it is also correct that this animal also requires something to eat. It becomes a matter of who has the right to live in this region: the native, the alligator or the swans who also migrate on the river?
For argument, in the comments section, people express their opinions concerning the matter. Of course, the cygnets are adorable and all but they don’t have any better claim to the river than that gator does. It is therefore a wonder if the swans cannot equally be given an entry into the house and thereafter be pronounced as pets.
Regarding this swan family, however, the man is coming in with a live-and-let-live attitude. He explained of course that all he desires is to safeguard for the swans to grow up to a size where the gator cannot easily hunt them.