I always see the same alligator at the Blue Hole in Big Pine Key. One day at the visitors platform I noticed that the alligator came swimming across the lake when he heard the sound of a car door slamming in the parking lot. It became obvious that the reptile was conditioned to the sound of the door because it meant he might get some forbidden (at least a 250 dollar fine) snack thrown to him from the tourists, preferably Doritos, please. Although there is a sign clearly stated not to feed the alligator, some people do it anyway. Maybe they don’t read English, or they think you should feed the wildlife the way you might feed the monkeys peanuts in a zoo. Please do not feed the wildlife on this island, especially the Key Deer.
