He's baaaaaaack! #2

Shot this critter (with camera, of course) the first time a couple of days ago. He continues to enjoy sunning himself on the bank opposite our living room windows.

Amazing reptiles these 'gators. They've been around for centuries and have adapted to their environment quite well through the ages.

They are protected in our state as well as others they inhabit. For sometime they were not and the species became close to extinction. Limited annual hunting permits are issued by our state to control population. As an example, the one in our pond, due to length (approx. 6 ft.) can only be removed by a person from the Dept. of Environmental Resources. If removed, they are taken to a remote swamp and released back into the wild.

As long as they are not a direct threat to persons or property, they are left alone. They existed before I did and, I'm sure, will be here long after I'm gone.