While walking a trail in Santee State Park we came around a corner to a small lake and heard a couple of small splashes. There, not 50 feet away was a 7-8′ female alligator lazing on the opposite shore with her brood. We counted seven small, 15″ to 18″, hatchlings in the water or right near her.
We would probably never noticed them if it weren’t for the splashes. Good thing they weren’t on our side of the pond…