We have been boating the Silver and Ocklawaha Rivers here in Ocala for many years. This week was the first time that we can recall a incident on either River in which there has been a person bitten by an alligator. When wildlife officials arrived to capture the gator, known as Floyd, the concensus was that his behavior was indicative that he had been fed by humans. DON’T FEED THE GATORS!
Gators will not typically bother us humans unless we invade their nesting areas. I had this lesson taught to me by a gator in south Florida. We were too close to her nest, among some fronds and such along the bank, and were chased half way home. The exception here is if they have been fed by the forementioned humans. DON’T FEED THE GATORS!
The gators do enjoy these hot temps and can be found basking in the sun. It has been unusually hot in Ocala for this time of year, and the early mornings or late afternoons will give you the best temperatures for being on the Rivers. These times also work well on the weekends when there is more boat and kayak traffic down the Silver and Ocklawaha Rivers.
As always, all you have to do is turn your head to see the wildlife along the way. Make sure that you keep an eye on those shaking limbs at the tops of the trees if you want to spot the Rhesus Monkeys. Oh, by the way, DON’T FEED THE MONKEYS!
It is going to be a beautiful weekend on the Silver and Ocklawaha Rivers. Many of Ocala boaters will be headed to the Rivers to enjoy this three day weekend. Try to get on the Rivers by 8:30 or 9, it is absolutely the best time, just you and the Rivers, and Mother Nature.
Lots of hatchlings… in fact, if it came out of a shell, it hatched. Baby gators, birds, turtles, and more, with the parents hustling to keep them fed. The baby cormorants have hatched, and they are sqwaking up a storm…”Feed me, FEED ME!”
We interrupted some alligators that were mating the other day, a 12 foot male and a 7 foot female. More hatchlings to come!
Blue Shad and Mullet adorn the bottom of the River. The pristine waters of the Silver River give a wonderful view of all beneath it’s surface.
A word of gratitude to all that serve our country on this weekend in which we honor those who gave their lives for our freedoms and rights. May God Bess you all, and your families for your many sacrifices.
Some of the largest deer I have ever seen in Florida were spooked the other day, and ran down the edge of the Silver River, at the convergence where the Silver empties into the Ocklawaha River. I heard some noise coming from the bank, looked over, and there they were, a buck and two does apparently running for their lives. I don’t know what spooked them, but it sure was a sight to see.
The Rhesus Monkeys along the Silver River have been putting on a show here lately. We spent around 15 minutes watching them jump from one side of the River to the other. On a different trip, we were entertained by some monkey rivalry. The bigger monkey was intent on shaking the smaller one off of the tree limb, using all of his antics, jumping up and down, hooting and hollering at him, and finally knocking the smaller monkey into the drink!
On the Ocklawaha the other day, we were thrilled to see a huge Bald Eagle.It must have had a 5-6 foot wing span. Large schools of Mullet were jumping out of the water….watch out, one might decide to take a ride in your boat!
Due to high waters from the recent rains, logs that had been previously banked are now floating in the Silver and Ocklawaha Rivers. No Wake Zones are for a reason! Also, keep an eye out for snags on the Rivers that are constantly on the move in this ever changing environment.
See you on the River!
The birds are in such abundance on the Silver River that the numbers are countless. The Black-crowned Night Heron is a rare sighting, and we saw several on one trip last week. Also putting in an appearance were several male and female Wood Ducks, Pileated Woodpeckers, King Fishers, Limpkins, and of course, the Herons. The Cormorants are continuing to build their nests in the trees near the Springs.
The Rhesus Monkeys were out and about. By the way, we just found out the monkey leading them on a merry chase in the St. Pete area probably originated from the Silver River. Have Banana…will travel!
Lots of life in the water…a Cottonmouth, Nile Perch and Mullet were easily seen. The just hatched baby Gators are about 6 inches long.
For navigation purposes there are no snags on the Silver River at this time.
See you on the River!
Due to the recent deluge of rain, the majority of the dock at the Ray Wayside Park/Ocala Boat Basin is under water. The Silver and Ocklawaha Rivers are out of their banks, and there’s a good bit of floating debris that can be a hazard in navigation. Use extreme caution if attempting to access these waterways for the next several days.
Silver River Tour News | Captain Nick | 
June 25, 2010 10:28 am | 
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