Signifies he ain’t scared! For the most part gators are “shy” around humans. Keep their distance. When I see the Squaw Creek gators they were almost always off in the distance and would swim away or submerge before you could get close to them. The OP’s point is this one had no fear of the humans being close. Doesn’t mean anything....just an observation. I think the American alligator is one of the success stories of my lifetime. In Texas and most southern states they were nearly all gone. As a kid they were almost just urban lore. Now they are all over southern, northern and eastern Texas. As a kid who would have thought I would see gators and bald eagles in North Texas?

I see alligators in the lakes around here all the time. In the spring the males will get up high in the water. I think it is a mating thing. Pretty awsome to hear them bellowing. Lured a big one up within 10 ft of the boat with a frog a couple of days ago. When he tore out it was a very impressive wake. He came up a little further out in the late and I lured him back again. I see big gators all the time that I try to get close enough to get a good picture. Some you can get within 30 yards, most go down way before that. Of course they are hunted here every year in September, so Louisiana gators may be a lot more skittish than the ones in Texas.

Probably had some young ones around. we are at the end of there mate-ing season.

Well then get your azz in the water and then let's just see how harmless they are

Been swimming Texas lakes for over 40 years, but thanks for your concern...

A lot of people swim and sit chest high in the water at Choke when their fishing off the rocks at Calliham. Not me!! I had a 12 +/- footer surface right next to me one day, I could have leaned over and pat him on the head. Instead, my azz puckered up and I quickly went on my way. At a club tournament, my buddy had one that tried to get on board at the stern. Double pucker!!

Fished around gators in MS for long time. They don't really bother me. Except for the one that was eyeballing me from about 3' away....

those 20 baby gators probable ended up as gator food for momma or papa. Alligators eat everything including their own babies. Lots of ducks, coons, deer, turtles, squirrels, otters
and anything else that drinks water from the lake. I'd say nutrients because they used to be everywhere but I hardly see them anymore.

I think that the alligators babies should be caught and moved to other coves at Fork to solve the turtle/hydrilla problem. While we know that hydrilla is in the soil and will grow if left alone, the turtles love to eat immature plants. Proven by the fences put up in remote locations.

I saw one in Little Caney last year that might have been 12' just swimming along on the surface not near any boats or even knowing anyone else was around. So that might be normal behavior for them.

I grew up swimming and water skiing on the Tickfaw River in south Louisiana, never had a problem.

Have a good friend in Tickfaw La. But first time I've seen Tickfaw mentioned online. He'd be proud.

Saw one in the small cove next to Wolfe last Saturday... maybe 2-3 ft long.

Walked up on one at Fork 2 weeks ago while doing a little late night bank fishing. Scared the [censored] out of me. 6'-7' footer. Location was in the cove behind Mustang Resort.

I'm awaiting my first encounter with one...I have yet to see an alligator in the wild. Only behind glass at zoos / aquariums.

It is pretty cool that there are alligators on fisheries across Texas. They are amazing creatures and much more than not seem to keep to themselves which is great. If there was one area in which I might be a bit nervous in swimming through during the nighttime on Lake Fork it without a doubt be in the top 20% of water in the northern areas of Little Caney. It seems that the alligators in Fork really enjoy shallow water coves that are not only protected from heavy winds but that also back up to ponds which are separated from the main lake coves on Lake Fork. I think they also like these areas due to the amount of dense aquatic vegetation that seems to be present year after year which they can use for cover as well as the amount of nutrias in those areas which they can feed upon. I will never forget fishing on Choke Canyon Reservoir the first time many years ago and seeing zoo sized alligators sunning themselves on the bank in groups of over 5 at a time. That is one lake you will never find me swimming in or talking a stroll on the land for any reason whatsoever..no way. It was an incredible sight to witness as I had no idea we have lakes in Texas with such large sized alligators. Perhaps I missed them but I think Choke Canyon Reservoir could use a few more signs at their public boat ramps informing the fisherman that there are alligators the size of their glass bass boats in that fishery.

gators are common in the lakes in south Georgia....typically the only time you see several gators in one spot is during mating season....a few times over the years I've hooked big gators when I was punching/flipping matted grass....you will think you have just hooked a world record bass until you see a trail of bubbles coming to the top as the gator swims off...if you're flipping with braid,get your scissors out and cut the line soon as you can or the gator will take all your line...