Taking 'Alligator Ambassador' on the road...

In late July, I had a text message from a friend of mine. An inquiry that came about because she'd seen my Facebook posts about my volunteering as an Alligator Ambassador with the Charleston County Parks. 
It asked: "do you have any availability to give our neighbors a talk about alligators? We have alligators in our neighborhood ponds and the neighbors are intimidated!!"

Of course, any opportunity to spread the word about our reptilian neighbors is an opportunity I didn't want to miss, so we started to plan a lecture!

In conjunction with the neighborhood HOA, we planned an event for a morning in August using the HOA meeting space.  Thanks to Kristina Wheeler offering some supplies and Dave Eslinger supplying some licensed alligator parts, I was able to put together a display similar to that which we use when volunteering at the park.

My presentation was to be half an hour long, and on the day, 24 people came and crammed into the meeting room. One of them supplied the projector and screen, and my friend supplied beverages and finger foods!

It was quite a turnout...and my presentation went on for an hour and a half!! The questions, the interest, the discussions, showed me these participants really were interested in the welfare of not only their neighbors, but the alligators, too.

Even the same afternoon, after I'd left, the neighborhood Facebook page was alive with offering information that was being perfectly relayed by the attendees, starting a great discussion of how everyone could keep the alligators and people safe, if we just leave them be and give them the distance and respect they deserve.

And don't feed them.

Here's the message I received a few days later from the HOA Board Member that attended my presentation:

Hello Colin,
thank you for the outstanding presentation at The Bridges at Seven Lakes on August 24, 2024. There were 24 people who attended, mostly adults and several children. Everyone found your discussion very interesting. There were a number of questions from the group about alligator topics, and you answered them with a very knowledgeable and understandable explanation. Alligators - Friend or Foe was the Presentation topic. It really helped all of us to see that: 1. They are not your pet. 2. You should never feed them. 3. They could be dangerous if you provoke them. The items you brought with you were very interesting to many and the closest they will ever get to an alligator. I believe all of the people are now more knowledgeable about alligators. We have a greater respect for alligators and how we need to associate with them in both of our neighborhoods. You have a gift for presenting a topic very well, and we all benefitted from your presentation. Thank You again from all of us at the Bridges.

Mike Stelzer

As a Master Naturalist, one of our tenets is to share our knowledge with the public. It's part of the reason we exist as an association...and many of you are are doing that with the good works and volunteering you're doing, so always look for the opportunity to continue to spread the word about us and the good we do on behalf of the Lowcountry flora and fauna!!
If you come across a situation where you think taking the Alligator Ambassador presentation to your neighborhood would help, let me know!