These Creatures Rise Up Growling From The Murky Water Looking For Love

There’s no admission price, no Mickey Mouse, no waiting in lines. The attraction at this Florida theme park is real—as in skin, bones, and blood. Circle B Bar Reserve doesn’t roll-off the tongue cleanly like Disney, Universal, and Sea World. The Central Florida nature park has its own cast of characters, with an 8 million-year-old star: The Florida gator. Now is the season for love as the Circle B Bar Reserve’s large gator population starts mating. The courtship begins in April. Here’s how it goes down. Usually, an adult male gator puts out a mating call—like a growl, bellow, or grunt—to attract a female. (See the video below of my close encounter.) These episodes of “Sex In The Swamp” continue through June and then lots of baby gators hatch from their eggs later in summer.

Circle B is a nearly 1,300-acre free public park in rural Polk County, almost in the center of the state between Tampa and Orlando. Parking is also free. You’ll see a menagerie of Florida critters, large and small; plus, some extraordinary landscapes. (See my video below this story.) The long walk around the banks of Lake Hancock is my favorite feature. You’ll observe gators in their natural habitat swimming, sunbathing, or roaming across the trail just a few yards in front of you. If you’re lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of old Humpback, a beast of a gator nicknamed for a massive curve on his back. Lake Hancock is on one side of the trail and an expansive green swamp is on the other. You’ll find yourself in the middle of Naturepalooza! The sights are amazing, as are the sounds. When you enter the park, find a parking spot closest to the Nature Discovery Center. The air-conditioned exhibit hall has interactive environmental displays, maps of the park, and restrooms. This is also where volunteer rangers can guide you on your journey in the park. There are over a dozen trails, all under a mile except for Alligator Alley, which is 1.2 miles, and in my opinion, the best trail. If you’re in no mood to hike, biking is an option; however, you’ll have to bring your own because there are no rentals. Beware of summer! Florida’s heat, humidity, and pop-up thunderstorms can make for a miserable experience if you’re not prepared. Early morning is the best time to visit, and take along plenty of water, sunscreen, and bug spray. Bring your own food and drink, too, because none is available in the park. Circle B Bar Reserve is pure Florida.