Amazing things Happen in the Swamps
I had just received a call from Captain Bill who had returned from his last tour of the day into the Everglades , asking if I could join him at the dock, Since it was on my way I decided to make a stop and see what he had to say.
As I left the vehicle, I heard Bill say - you won't believe my last trip, So knowing Bill from the hill's of Tennessee, I knew this was going to take some time, and I made my way to the nearest shade tree.
Bill; I was out in the backwaters and decided to make my way to the flooded Pastures.
This being early summer., I thought about the low water associated with draw down for summer rains;
Bill; You know how shallow the plains get this time of the year, but there are always some interested thing to see in the afternoon
I too had been on some of the outing that Bill was a talking about, and from one day to the next, you can always get to see something different
Bill; I had left the female Susie with her 20 some grunts all in the bull rush at the north side of the marsh, she had put on a show for the 5 guest that were from England, with her Hissing and a blowing.
Ms Susie has been one of several female's that has built nest and hatched out several grunts / short for newborn gators
Bill; I left Ms Susie and headed down the trail that led to the back flooded area, with several crain , ibes, herons and a wood stork voicing their concerns, and decided to stop at a new Sand Hill Crain nest , to see if she had laid her eggs
April May & June are times when a lot of wildlife build their nest in the Marsh, great time to watch the little ones come forth
Bill; This one had built in some higher swamp grass close to the trail into the flooded plains,
we were sitting there discussing the migration and what the Crain chicks look like when they hatch. When out of the corner of my left eye, I saw the Tall Grass moving with some force
Now this is where it will get interested, because Bill expression on his face lit up. So now he has my attention
Bill; I told everyone to look to the left cause something big was a coming our way and moving fast, about that time a Large Black Boar probably 400 lbs came a crashing thru the thick swamp grass, headed our way.
This was a getting better and better
Bill ; I said hold on and hit the starter and away we went, the same direction the Boar was a coming at us, cause I knew sure he would turn if I came his way, and sure enough he did," phew"
The wild pigs were introduced to Florida in 1535 by Poince Deleon from Spain
Bill; the Boar took off in the other direction and I was in pursuit, hot on his tail as he went left and then right trying to loose me.
They can run fast in a short 1/4 mile
Bill; Finally he had had enough and just sit down on his behind and looked at us, there was a lot of Whoop's and picture taking and we bid him farewell
One of the ladies say's that was the most fun I have ever had, and she said I laughed so hard I think wet myself
we all had another laugh and headed to the dock