Injured Gator

Gallery: WildlifePosted March 27, 2013181 views2 comments

This alligator was photographed at Brazos Bend State Park near Houston Texas this past weekend. What appeared to be a growth turned out to be a tear in the gator's pouch. I wonder if this is an escape route for prey.

7D * EF70-200mm F/2.8L IS II + 1.4 TC
1/1250 sec at f/6.3 @ 280 mm
hand held

C & C wecomed

Comments

2 comments

Comment posted by Don Westbrook on March 28, 2013 at 5:09 PM

Really sharp and interesting capture. You handled the light really well to obtain the details of the laceration, and highlight his hide at the same time. Is it hunting season down there? I was wondering if this wound might have been caused by a treble hook.

Registered on January 4, 2013, 11 Posts, 332 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on March 29, 2013 at 12:05 PM

I hope that nasty tear can heal! It is hard to judge size of this gator, but this looks like an adult to my eye, suggesting that might be too large a tear to be from a hook. Other gator perhaps?

Regardless, this is an interesting capture, and one of the few I have see of an alligator with a catch light in the eye. Great low perspective help make this work. Your exposure looks spot on, with great depth of field control and rich but realistic colors. Good posting!

Registered on December 9, 2007, 258 Posts, 9892 Comments