She Will Be Fierce
What A Momma Gator Can Teach Us About Protecting The Things We Love
My body is becoming a wildlife canvas of sorts.
When I’m on the trails — even though I’m very introverted — I find myself involved in conversations that would not have occurred if my skin lacked ink. I’ve met at least one “keeper” friend this way and I’ve learned tons of things from other people across the world.
Additionally, I imagine that some of these interactions are cataloged and would probably pop up on Google images, as tourists seem to like to photograph my tattoos.
I value my interactions and what they teach me. When I’m out there, however, I’m typically very absorbed in nature and behind a lens, so while I’m approachable, there are usually a few seconds of internal reluctance to engage with human apes.
And I typically don’t get into anyone’s business.
Yesterday was different.
Yesterday I felt that brief anxiety beginning to bubble in my throat when it became apparent that the extreme introvert in me was going to have to insert herself into a situation.
Picture this. Me in my khakis and a whopping backpack of camera gear and tripod comes upon a group of “hikers” that resemble city folk strolling an urban sidewalk.
They were standing atop an embankment about 4–5 feet away from a momma gator with brand spanking new hatchlings.
As I approached, they said the following: “She was going to cross, but we came up, and so she stopped.”
Allow me to explain. Wetlands often have elevated embankments between bodies of water and these can be used as hiking paths.
What had actually happened is that she had been in the water. Unbeknownst to them, she had not been about to cross the hiking path and been scared away from it. She had come up on the bank and “stopped” by her hatchlings because people with cameras got too close. She was warning them: “I’m here. I’m always here.”
There was a child in this group, accompanied by older humans that appeared to be parental units. The child was aimlessly swinging a stick and peering down over the gator.
Fortunately, the maternal parental unit noticed just as the child was about to launch the stick at the hatchlings. She had the good sense to stop him.
Two male figures began to question “Would momma protect them? What would she do?” The curiosity in their voice, and the vacuum where knowledge should be alarmed me. Were they going to try and find out?
I suddenly felt it imperative to make a point that hopefully would stay with them, because anyone who is ignorant regarding coming between a mother and offspring of any animal, probably does not belong on a trail.
“SHE WILL BE FIERCE” I replied.
And to satisfy the Gemini in me, I said it again. :-)
For good measure and education, I added “AND QUICK. SHE WILL BE QUICK.”
Fortunately the impostor hikers moved on without adverse event, and my mind migrated to consider the momma gator and what I know about their protection of their young.
Some folks are aware, but many people would be utterly amazed at how quickly an alligator can move, and if you want to see an animal that will fight for its young, just piss off a momma gator.
We often belittle reptiles, ignorantly believing that brain size dictates perception and cognition. I can assure you that no human mother is more impressive in a fight to save offspring than a crocodilian.
As I continued my journey along the trails, what I had said took me on a different kind of journey. The description of “She will be fierce…” began to resonate with me in a different way.
I’ve been watching a series entitled “When We Rise” that is a documentary about LGBT rights, and some of the characters are impressive to me. These are people who push through fear and are willing to fight and suffer the consequences of resistance in order to help create a just condition in society.
And as an environmentalist, conservationist, naturalist, and wildlife photographer, I also am aware of many threats to our natural world. I have to be willing to put up the good fight on behalf of those species who will suffer the consequences of human action and inaction.
The American alligator is one of my two totem animals. And yesterday, momma gator gave me another great mantra that will infuse my conservation work. She reminded me to be fierce.
Like her, I have things I care about.
I care about the diversity of this planet.
I care about other animals.
I care about giving back to the earth and not being a parasitic organism.
I care about humans across the world.
And I care about my nieces and nephews who will have to pay a heavy penalty if my generation doesn’t get their collective shit together.
We all can, and should, consider what momma gator has to tell us about protecting our future and survival of our species. And survival of our species means that we must ensure the survival of others.
She’s been around for over 200 million years, this crocodilian, and we’d do well to listen regarding how to handle threats, whether it is humans with iPhones wanting selfies, or whether it is a political administration, or just mindless individuals driven completely by a consumptive addiction for more, more, more…
Let’s “be fierce” in our protection of our natural world. Please join me on this spectacular journey.
At the link below, you can enjoy a few moments of footage of the momma gator and her hatchlings.
And if you are interested in learning more about this amazing reptile, check out my blog piece “The Zen Of Gator” at the following link:
https://www.facebook.com/eliewolfphotography
