I wrote a post a couple years back about a swamp tour I went on here in Louisiana and how neat it was to get close to the alligators as well as how bizarre the culture surrounding alligator tours and alligator hunting is. Recently, I have been on two more swamp tours, and I wanted to share the results here.

I brought my new camera with me and although the alligators were not as close as on the previous tour, which it was explained to be was because it was still too cold out for them and they were not feeding yet, I enjoyed shooting of the trees and the other animals.

These tours are different than most nature tours, because the area is not protected. You can see it as it really is for these animals to live with people and with hunters. One interesting thing I did learn, however, is that alligators may lay 100 eggs in the wild and only 1% survive. In farming, 99% survive, and the farms return 10% to the wild. You can tell which ones are from farms because of the notches taken out of their tale. The population has actually gone up since people began farming the alligators, so perhaps people aren’t all bad and at least here they are making up for the reduction in population that was caused by hunting. Below, you can see the influence people have on this swamp and that the swamp has on them. Beyond hunting and food, people rely on the water for transportation and it can be consumed with distillation. The moss was used for mattresses, among other things.

Here is a sample of some of the creatures I found in the swamp other than alligators.

And last but not least, my new favorite swamp creatures- wild boars! On the first of these two swamp tours, I was introduced to these magnificent creatures. They came right up to the boat to eat marsh mellows. They are apparently as intelligent as dogs. It was the last day of hunting season for the boars, and I was pleased to find out this family was still alive when I went on the second tour. Not only that, but on the second tour I was able to meet their piglets.

I am enjoying shooting nature more and more. I used to feel a photo had to have a person in it to make it interesting- that is the journalist in me- but I am learning the joy of documenting nature. To complete this blog, however, let me go away from nature for a moment and post a few photos from the same period from the St. Patrick’s Day Parade and then close with one of my mom and I. My mom went on the second swamp tour with us and met the boars. In fact, one of them almost jumped in her lap and succeeded in getting her soaked. It was a wonderful visit and I am so glad she was able to make it down. I was actually just in New Jersey with her for Mother’s Day, but let me say it again, happy Mother’s Day, mom, and thank you for all you do.