The Truth About Alligators on Sanibel Island

Sanibel Island is a peaceful place.

Small, tropical, inviting, it is easy to feel that there is not a worry in the world while vacationing on Sanibel.

And for the most part, that is accurate.

The singular exception may be the presence of alligators, and you will see signs warning about them posted throughout the Island.

But some may take the signs to heart in such a way that inhibits their enjoyment of the island.

So let's set the record straight about these prehistoric looking creatures.

First, alligators are opportunistic eaters.  They pretty much lay in wait in fresh or brackish waters or on the edges of same for prey to come close by.  They will not be wandering the streets and beaches looking for a bite to eat. 

Second, a full grown alligator can exist on one raccoon for months.  Their metabolism is very slow and they are not the ravenous monsters some think they are.  But neither you nor your dog should approach the edges of fresh or brackish bodies of water as the enticement is great, but the risk is even greater.

Third, during winter months, alligators are lethargic and pretty much just lay around.  When the weather starts to warm, alligators become active, feeding more, looking for new territories and mating. It is during these times that alligator sightings are most prevalent. If you see an alligator, the best thing to do is leave it alone.

Fourth, most deaths by alligators are not from blood loss or even from drowning.  It is the bite alone which is so full of bacteria that it kills by infection.  A word to the wise should be sufficient.

 

Fifth, alligators can be lighting fast when they see you are in striking distance, 15 feet or less from them and the water. Observe and photograph alligators only from 30 feet or more away. Remember they are an important part of Sanibel’s natural history as well as an integral component of our freshwater ecosystem.

Just as we love all wild life on Sanibel, we love our gators.  And we love our tourists.  We just want to see a sensible distance between the two!

Getting to , from and through Sanibel Island

Though Sanibel Island is a small, warm and inviting place; like anywhere in the world it also has some wonderful surprises and even a few challenges.

We mentioned a couple of posts ago how there have been some rare visitors, even for those of us who know the Island well.

So anyone with Sanibel in mind should be aware that there are a few aids available to help equip the vacationer for any eventuality.

As one example, if you are a shell collector, you might want to be aware of timing.  If you want to find the best seashells on Sanibel Island, get to the beaches well before dawn. In addition to competing with other avid shellers, you need to arrive early before the tide washes some of the potentially best finds back out to sea. Local parks and recreation departments comb the beaches with rakes on the backs of tractors quite early in the morning, burying or crushing seashells that could have become treasured finds.


And if you are a bird watcher coming to see migratory birds, there are now several good resources that will show you live the routes of bird migration. In addition, during the winter months, the Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation – in cooperation with the Sanibel-Captiva Audubon Society -- conducts birding tours on Foundation Preserves that are normally not open to the public. Birding tip: During the fall, winter and spring, serious Sanibel birders know to visit Lighthouse point in the early morning, when large numbers of migrating birds can be found resting in the trees.  Like the Island itself, the Light House is a special place and worth the visit even if no migrants are in evidence.

 
And visitors who make their journeys to the Island  in high season know quite well that patience is some times needed to get to and through the Island....and off the island as well.   Now, the City of Sanibel has created a web cam view of not only the Sanibel Causeway, but of the major intersections and lanes on island where there might be congestion in winter months.  Want to look ahead and see what you can expect? Access the webcam views on the City of Sanibel website and you will see in real time what your path looks like.

No matter your reasons or purpose for coming to Sanibel, the opportunities to discover are endless and additional help on most anything you are interested in is just a phone call or web click away.

Some words on Nature Selfies on Sanibel

There is a new phenomena taking place all over the world.

It's been going on for a few years, and is now accelerating. 

It's called a selfie.

You know, the kind of quick snap of your self with your cell phone with the Eiffel Tower behind you, or perhaps a dinner photo of you and your best friend at a restaurant, or maybe your new beautiful condo that you just moved into serving as your background.

All of these are harmless,

It's fun to see them on Facebook and other social media where people post their pix.

But what concerns us is the nature selfie.

And we are reading our concern has a good reason.

In taking selfies with animals, there has been great damage.

People holding a baby dolphin for the camera actually caused the lovely , innocent creature to die.  It was kept out of the water too long and could not survive

In another incident, widely criticized, a peacock was the subject for selfies.  As with many birds, the peacock's nature and fragile heart could not handle the stress and the peacock succumbed.

While Sanibel Island is a unique nature destination attracting people from all corners of the world, many, if not most, respect and love nature.

But the island invites easy access, and it could prove harmful if caution is not exercised.

For your sake, more than the alligator's, getting close to a gator to snap a selfie could easily be the last photo you ever take.  While our gators are awesome, they are wild and unpredictable.  Standing within a few feet of a large alligator when close to the water is much too big a risk.  Stand 20 feet back and grab a snap of the gator alone.  Your friends and family will be much happier with a safe image than one that could have cost you your life.

And though most of our birds will not allow a close encounter, there are some that will.  But refrain from getting too cozy with the Great Blue Heron wandering the beach.  Your friendliness may create undue stress, and that big beak can be super painful if aimed directly at you.

None of our critters need to be fed as an enticement for a close up.  There is ample food for every creature that lives here, and it is here 12 months a year.

Sanibel is a special place.  Our guests are special people. And our nature is most special of all.    We can all co-exist on this little tropical island with no damage done to anyone.

Rare Visitors to Sanibel Island

As usual , this winter season saw many new visitors on island.

Word has gotten out that Sanibel is about as perfect a retreat from the icy cold and snow as one could wish for in the range of choices.

And so there was a parade of holiday makers, some staying a few days, some a week, some a month who were first timers for our little tropical island.

No doubt among them, were celebrities.  News makers, the rich and famous and others whom one might recognize from tv and the papers.

But there was probably less hue and cry about the two legged celebrities than there was about the avian rarities.  While the Island is famous world wide for its migratory bird populations, these migrants were particularly notable.

One of these, a Flamingo who may have lost his way in the Everglades, ended up in the water ways surrounding Sanibel.  The first sighting was in late January off the Sanibel Causeway and it received such acclamation that people were coming from all over Florida to get a glimpse.

Some did, and there were some spectacular shots taken of this gorgeous visitor.....from a distance, of course.  Even with those, a couple of professional photographers with both patience and the right equipment were able to capture images that also captured the full enthusiasm of bird watchers who hoped to get a glimpse as well.

Future sightings took place through February, though it has been a couple of weeks since any reports were made.  But that is the way it is with birds.  They come and they go, and much of the ability to see them depends on luck as well as keen eyesight and patience.

Another rare avian visitor was the Great White Pelican who just appeared this month in the Ding Darling Nature preserve----- a good 4,000 miles from its home range of Africa.

Southwest Florida news outlets reported recently that the bird was first spotted on a  Sunday in early March .  But it was not so apparent,  as was the Flamingo. The Great White Pelican joined the flock of American White Pelicans and though it is bigger and has a different shaped head than the "ordinary" White Pelicans, one had to look closer in the flocks to discern it from the others.

The stray pelican immediately made waves in the birding community, including among "Ding" Darling staff, who promptly made it the refuge's Facebook cover photo.

Sanibel Island is a very special place, and this winter claimed the Island more special than ever! 

How to evaluate vacation rental properties on Sanibel Island

As a small , tropical, easy to navigate island, with a continuous beach from east to west and a nature reserve almost as long, one might think researching vacation rental properties would not be necessary for Sanibel Island.

And to a large degree, that is true.

There are no "bad" neighborhoods on Sanibel, all the neighborhoods are good, as are all the beaches.

But the very best vacation experience will rely, to at least some degree, on how well your accommodation on island meets your needs.

Aside from number of bedrooms and bathrooms, probably the most crucial in finding comfortable digs, your experience will depend on the fit for location, amenities, feel and ambiance.

If you want to be close to the Sanibel causeway, the east end is probably a good bet.  If you want more proximity to shops and restaurants, mid island may work best for you.  If you want a more secluded environment, then west end probably has more to offer.

Similarly, the layout of a condo, cottage or house may make a big difference in your ability to feel "at home".  Privacy is important for some, and a vacation rental with a split floor plan with distance between bedrooms would help to guarantee more privacy.

While every VR has a kitchen, its level of update will vary widely.  If you like to cook and plan to eat in, choosing a rental with a good kitchen could be a great boon for your stay.  Most vacation rentals are equipped very similarly, but the kitchen status could vary widely and you will want to pay close attention to the photos of the kitchen, noting differences and inquiring when you have questions.  Dining areas might also raise compatibility issues.  Are the table and chairs inside sufficient?  Do you want to eat on the lanai and need night time lighting? A ceiling fan?  A large table with ample seating?  All of these special features will vary from rental to rental.

While most condo complexes do offer pools, if your rental party plans to spend a lot of time in and around the pool, it might be helpful for you to familiarize yourself with pool rules before you book.  Some complexes do not allow rafts and other floating devices in the pool.  Others may have adult only hours.  Most do not allow glass to be brought to the pool area.  And more and more are not allowing smoking at the pool.

To be sure, Sanibel is a beautiful natural place and vacationers make wonderful memories here.  But the best times are the result of some planning and discretion and are well worth the time it takes to make certain the accommodation is going to be what you want it to be!

Hidden Treasures on Sanibel Island

Though Sanibel is a hidden treasure itself, often considered the jewel in Sanibel's crown, it contains dozens of nooks and crannies well worth exploring.

Here are some of our favorites, and we hope you will add some of your own.


Periwinkle Park's Mini Zoo:
Sanibel Island doesn't have its own zoo, but many islanders say this is the closest thing to a zoo on the island. It's the exotic animal display at Periwinkle Park and Campground off Periwinkle Way. Park your car outside the park and take a quick stroll into the park and it'll be on your left hand side. It features many species of exotic and native birds - such as toucans and macaws. You'll also see brown and ringtailed lemurs. The park's general manager says it began as his dad's hobby and grew over time into an attraction. Libby, a resident of the park who cares for the birds, offers a parrot show weekdays (except Wednesdays) at 10 a.m. She takes the birds out and lets visitors hold them.

The observation tower at the Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation:
Sanibel Island and its sister island, Captiva Island, are great places for bird watching. Visitors or “birders” go to the islands to enjoy the subtropical climate, sit on the beaches and enjoy the many species of birds that visit each year. The observation tower is a great place to get a birds eye view. It's hidden behind the Nature Center at the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation, off Sanibel-Captiva Road. This tower doesn't get visited by many compared to the tower at Ding Darling. That's what makes it a great hidden gem. Take a quick stroll through the trails to get to the tower and you will be met with peacefulness and true wilderness. The tower is very well built and offers a breathtaking view when you get to the top.

The Shipley Trail:
The Shipley Trail is one of Sanibel's many trails but SCCF says a lot of people don't know it's there because it just opened recently. It connects Roadside City Park off Periwinkle Way and Pond Apple Park/Trail. It travels through the Bailey Homestead Preserve, which isn't open to the public just yet. Don't let the construction crews scare you away. Workers are removing invasive trees and building public restrooms. The trail is the special and perfect length if you want to experience one of Sanibel's trails but don't have much time to invest. But if you do have time, walk over the Starr D. Thomas Memorial Boardwalk and walk the Pond Apple Trail which leads back to the Chamber of Commerce.

The Bailey Tract:

Ding Darling is by far one of the island's most popular attractions, so we had to include a hidden secret within the refuge. Although it's not intended to be a hidden secret, staffers say visitors often overlook the Bailey Tract off Tarpon Bay Road. It's described as true wilderness and we took a hike to confirm that. The tract is 100 acres and was first owned by Frank P. Bailey, a Sanibel pioneer. It's a great place to view wildlife, take photos and fish. Staff at Ding Darling say visitors have a higher chance of seeing wildlife at play as opposed to areas with more visitors. The refuge hopes to restore the tract to its original spartina marsh habitat, control invasive plants, and continue to protect the native plant and animal species. The refuge also hopes to make the tract more interactive and educational for visitors in the future.

 

The Beach at Blind Pass:

There is a hidden jewel situated only a few miles down the road from Bowman’s. While there is a fee to park at Blind Pass, as with most beaches in the area, it’s affordable at only $2.00 USD per hour as of May 2013. It is well worth every penny spent.  With great fishing, constant sightings of dolphins and manatees playing, plenty of space to spread out, never ending sunshine to obtain that beautiful tan you’ve been craving, gorgeous scenery, lush flora and fauna, stunning waterfront mansions, restaurants and convenience stores nearby, and the gorgeous gentle waves hitting the shore, Blind Pass is truly one of Florida’s hidden gems. Sunset viewing from Blind Pass is incredible, and unforgettable as well.

Why April is a "hot" month on Sanibel

Although Sanibel has become a year round destination, some months are busier than others.

As one might expect of a winter retreat, February is the most popular month of all.   Many people use it to escape the cold and snow and release them from their cabin fever.

But the second most popular month is not in winter but in spring, a very special time on island. 

The many school holidays in April are among the reasons the Island is so popular in April.  But there are other factors that come into play.

April is generally the month where rates drop, making a vacation during that time period more attractive.  They do not drop to half of high season prices, but the month is more often than not considered shoulder season and a 25 to 30 percent decrease in vacation rental prices is typical.  The decrease combined with the fact that the weather is warmer, the Gulf of Mexico is warmer and the days are longer can make Sanibel irresistible in April.

And for birders, a growing number of visitors for Sanibel, April provides an additional incentive.

April and early May are great times to observe migratory birds on the Island. This time period will offer birds in breeding plumage, behavior, and chicks for some species.

And exploring the island, whether by beach or bike path, is especially nice in the month of April.  Typically, there is little rain, low humidity, great shelling , nice breezes and nights just cool enough to necessitate a light sweater or light blanket , even with the AC off and windows open.

So, if you have not made your vacation plans yet, think Sanibel, think April.  We are confident you will like what you find here!