When you think of Florida, what is the first animal that pops in your mind? For many, it's the American Alligator. Many who have never been to Florida fear this massive reptile, and it is good to keep your distance, but alligators are beautiful creatures that as long as you don't harass them, will mind their own business. Since living in Florida, I have had countless opportunities to see wild alligators in local lakes, and I've learned some fascinating things about them.

Some reptiles, like many lizards and turtles, lay eggs, burying them in the ground then they leave them. When the young hatch they are on their own, with no parents to protect or feed them. I thought alligators were the same way until I went to a swamp park and saw a wild alligator family myself.

I was with my parents and husband, and we were walking the boardwalk that wound its way through muddy swamp. It was January, but still, warm, beautiful weather, since it's Florida. We were headed for the observation tower at the end of the boardwalk and just on the other side of the railing, in the mud was a large adult alligator surrounded by various sizes of babies. The closer we looked, the more baby alligators we could see, there were dozens of them. Some were bigger and may have been about a year old, others were probably only a few weeks old, still with their baby strikes and markings. The babies have more color; by the time they are adults they are all black.

I thought alligators had nothing to do with raising their young, but here was a mother with dozens of her babies. The mother protects them until they are up to two years old. Alligators are actually one of the few reptiles that will care for their young. Although alligators are top predators, when they are babies, they are only a few inches long and vulnerable to many predators. Even powerful reptiles like alligators can care for their young. I enjoyed watching the baby alligators move about and swim in the shallow water nearby. They stayed close together and hidden in the mud, while their mother kept watch next to them.

Yes, alligators are powerful predators, their jaws are strong enough to crack turtle shells. But they will keep to themselves as long as you keep to yourself and don't harass them. They actually aren't scary when you respect them, and they are amazing to watch.

Alligator swimmingCorrinne Brubaker

Recently, I was at the park, standing on a dock that overlooked the water. The sun was shining so you could see right into the water and see all the fish swimming amongst the grasses and water lilies. Then out of nowhere, I jumped when an alligator swam out from under the dock, right in front of me. It was a small alligator, only 3-4 feet long and still with some of it's lighter coloring. The water was so clear I could see its feet moving as it slowly swam towards the seagrasses. The alligator was peaceful and graceful as it swam. Seeing wild alligators for yourself is an experience you will never forget. It never gets old.