In my neighbors are alligators, monkeys, birds, deer, squirrels, raccoons, & bears, and more everywhere.
Alligators! My neighborhood is gatorfest!
My neighbors are alligators, monkeys, birds, deer, squirrels, raccoons, & bears, and more everywhere.
This is normal here! — They live across the street from my house right now!
Yes, there are alligators in the Ocala National Forest, right next to where I live, in Silver Springs. — I once had an employee who called late from work because on her way, an alligator was walking across the road, and she stopped to catch it because she was going to cook it for dinner.
I did try fried alligator at Gatorland.
Gatorland is a 110-acre theme park and wildlife preserve in Florida, located south of Orlando.
Gatorland is home to over 2,000 alligators and crocodiles.
It also has a variety of other animals, including snakes, tortoises, birds, and mammals. Gatorland is a popular tourist destination, and it attracts over 2 million visitors each year. The park is open year-round, and admission prices vary depending on the time of year.
Alligators are all over the place in Florida.
American alligators are found in freshwater habitats throughout Florida, including lakes, rivers, swamps, and ponds. They are also found in some man-made habitats, such as canals and retention ponds.
They used to nap in back yard at my old house.
I did let my dogs in the backyard at all. — This is my front yard now. Now they are living down in the gully across the street behind the tree in the below pic!
I just got a cheap waterproof video camera.
For my new nature YouTube channel, I am going attach it to a tree over there, hit record, and leave it overnight recording. Who knows what we will get? — Sounds super fun, right?
I got it from my totally cheap website, Temu.com.
I am one frugal mo-fo so it cost only $17.98. Link below. If you click the link, you will see a photo of the cam! — (Not an affiliate link.)
A 10-foot alligator crosses the road in Florida.
So I now live right by The Ocala National Forest, so this is so common. 🎬Video 42 seconds
The other, two deer were playing in my front yard.
I will be putting some corn by the camera I am putting across the street and a salt lick, because deer love corn and salt.
The Ocala National Forest is home to a variety of wildlife, including black bears.
Black bears are the largest land mammals in Florida. They are typically found in the forests of north and central Florida.
These cute little buggers know when trash day is.
I was at my cousins house the night before trash day. I was gonna go to my car by the garage, almost tripped over a black bear. We both jumped. The bear ran across the street. I just stood there for a second, then went to my car.
They even sell bear-proof trashcans!
It’s a big problem here. The raccoons rob the trashcans also. This stupid trashcan is 64 Gal. Black Bear Tight Trash Can with Wheels and Lid Lock costs $496.02. — I’ll feed the frigging bears! — (Not an affiliate link.)
Speaking of Raccoons, welcome to my backyard.
At night they raid my birdfeeder. They totally dig the birdseed. The cutest part is that they dig their hands into the birdseed, gobble some up, and then wash their hands in the water dish!
If you have never seen a raccoon wash its hands, here you go! — They wash their hands a lot!
I use a security camera that has night vision and records automatically when it detects movement while I am asleep, so when I wake up, I check the recordings on my computer and find beautiful footage like this!
Bats also do flybys at night.
I have to take some time and put the footage into slow motion before I put it in a video because they zip by pretty quickly.
Mornings are all about the squirrels.
Squirrels eat in the morning for a number of reasons. Squirrels typically store food in caches throughout their territory, and they will often visit these caches in the morning to replenish their energy stores.
Here are some additional reasons why squirrels eat in the morning:
Truthfully, they eat nonstop. Since I can see them through the camera on my iMac desk, I have been studying them while I work.
- They eat nonstop to gain energy: Squirrels need to eat a lot of food in order to maintain their high energy levels. Eating in the morning helps them to get the energy they need to start their day.
- Squirrels may have used up a lot of energy during the night foraging for food. Eating in the morning helps them to refuel and get ready for another day of activity.
- Squirrels may also eat in the morning in order to store food for later. They will often bury nuts and seeds in caches throughout their territory. These caches can provide them with food during the winter when food is scarce.
Squirrels are an important part of the ecosystem.
They help to disperse seeds and nuts, which helps to create new plants. They also provide food for other animals, such as birds and foxes.
This guy below has an injury but he still comes every single day! — This is super fun!
Yes, there are monkeys in the Ocala National Forest & Silver Springs, where I live.
The monkeys in Ocala are rhesus macaques, which are an invasive species. They are native to Asia, but they were introduced to Florida in the 1930s. They have since established a population in the Ocala National Forest and Silver Springs, where I live.
Here are some safety tips to follow if you see a monkey in the Ocala National Forest or Silver Springs:
- Keep your distance and avoid making any sudden movements.
- Do not feed or touch the monkey.
- If the monkey approaches you, make loud noises and wave your arms to scare it away.
- Report any monkey sightings to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Rhesus macaques are not native to Florida, and they were introduced to the state in the 1930s. There are two main theories about how they arrived:
- They were released from a research facility. In 1938, a research facility in Silver Springs, Florida, was closed. It is believed that some of the rhesus macaques that were being used in research were released into the wild at the time.
- They escaped from a private zoo. In 1935, a private zoo in Miami, Florida, was destroyed by a hurricane. It is believed that some of the rhesus macaques that were kept at the zoo escaped at the time.
Rhesus macaques have since established a population in the Ocala National Forest and Silver Springs. They are considered an invasive species, and they pose a number of threats to native wildlife and the environment.
Here are some of the threats that rhesus macaques pose:
- They can transmit diseases to humans and other animals. Rhesus macaques can carry a number of diseases that can be transmitted to humans, such as herpes B virus and tuberculosis.
These monkeys can damage property.
Rhesus macaques have been known to raid trash cans, break into homes, and even attack people. They can cause significant damage to property, both public and private.
Below is my backyard bird feeder with squirrels partying!
You could have nature in your yard!
I started with a birdfeeder some birdfood and wildlife peanuts.
It can take some time for wildlife to find your yard if you are putting out food or have a birdfeeder.
The amount of time it takes will depend on a number of factors, including…
The type of food you are putting out.
Some foods are more attractive to wildlife than others. For example, birds are particularly attracted to seeds, nuts, and berries.
The location of your yard.
If your yard is located in a wooded area or near a water source, it will be more likely to attract wildlife.
If you are patient and persistent, wildlife will eventually find your yard. Here are a few tips to help attract wildlife to your yard.
Put out a variety of food.
This will give wildlife more options and make it more likely that they will find something they like.
Keep the food fresh.
Wildlife will be more likely to visit your yard if the food is fresh and appealing.
I’m having a blast! — Just be patient.
It may take some time for wildlife to find your yard. Just keep putting out food and being patient, and eventually, they will come.
I hope these tips help you attract wildlife to your yard!
So who is this Jan Sebastian writer chick?
I had a stroke so I am disabled and am kicking major ass.…well in some ways. I can’t walk or talk well but I’m a writing MO-FO! Kickin’ serious BUTT 100%!
This is my silly stroke therapy video. The focus on my face is hilarious! A crazy-ass redhead who is not at all normal and proud of it. I love people and love helping them. Unconventional seems right. Fearless and focused.
Subscribe to me because I want to update you all the way to the finish line!
If you wish to connect with me. Email: [email protected]
THANK YOU FOR READING. I LOVE YOU ALL!
If you like my work and want to support it, buy me a cup of coffee!
If you would like to join Medium and write or read work from many writers, click to join for $5 a month, click here!
