Larry the Alligator caught the attention of Villagers on Saturday when the large prehistoric-looking creature decided to take a stroll on a multi-modal path in Brownwood.
The alligator – easily the most famous of his kind in The Villages – came out of his personal pond, which is located just off County Road 44-A and Shady Nook Run, about a block behind the Citizens First Bank branch. Larry took some time to enjoy the sun – as he often does – and then crossed over the multi-modal path next to the pond as Villagers in golf carts stopped to watch and offer their thoughts about the extremely large creature.
Larry’s short-but-heavily-watched journey was caught on video and in photos by Village of Gilchrist resident Faye Scher’s husband, Marc, and her son, Jacob. Faye Scher, a member of the charity-oriented Gilchrist West Social Club and a volunteer at Wildwood Elementary School, is largely known throughout Florida’s Friendliest Hometown for her connection and support of student Abby Lacayo, who recently successfully underwent a complicated surgery at a hospital in Minnesota.
In the video, Villagers can be seen watching in awe and discussing the sighting of Larry.
“That is huge! How long do you think he is?” asked a Villager as Larry moved across the path.
“He’s got to be at least 12 feet,” another resident answered.
“Yeah, that’s what I thought,” the first Villager replied, while warning someone not to get too close because “they run fast.”
That warning is a wise one and something all Villagers should take to heart. Although Larry is somewhat of a mascot in the Brownwood area, like all alligators, he should be considered extremely dangerous and no one should get close to him for any reason.
Villagers who like to take walks also shouldn’t get too close to the shores of ponds and lakes in The Villages, as alligators can come out of the water very quickly. And under no circumstances should pets be allowed to walk along the shoreline, as they are more likely to be attacked than humans.
Villagers also should be aware that alligator mating season is quickly approaching. Typically, it runs from mid-April through May, although it can start earlier depending on weather patterns and other factors. During that time, alligators are usually more aggressive than normal, as they look for a mate and should be considered extremely dangerous.
Alligators like Larry are extremely territorial by nature and even more so during mating season. So while he might be fun to photograph and videotape, it’s important for all Villagers to keep a safe distance away and stay out of any bodies of fresh water, because it’s a safe bet that at least one of Florida’s 2 million gators will be close by. And everyone should remember that it’s illegal to feed alligators as well.
As for Larry, it’s safe to say that Villagers will continue to see him patrolling the shoreline of his pond. He’s grown quite popular with Villagers – so much so that he even has his own Facebook page. You can learn more about him, including when his birthday is celebrated, by visiting https://www.facebook.com/larrythealligator/.
