I don’t need to watch out for these while hiking around here in New England. I saw quite a few American Alligators on a recent trip to Florida though. I’m not that good at estimating size but a conservative guess is that it was at least 10 feet (3 meters) long. It was the biggest one I saw. He was just a dozen yards/meters away but I obviously did not try for a selfie!
Birds in My Viewfinder 
Mike,
When I visited Florida years ago, I was about 20 feet (on land) from an alligator, trying to get a picture about as close as yours. Later I read that if an alligator decides to attack and you are as much as 30 feet away when he starts the chase, you are alligator food. I was young then. I’d probably limit myself to an even safer approach distance now. I don’t know how much protection the water in your shot might have provided.
Best, Tom
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This was an opportunity shot. I wasn’t looking for gators. It was a “snapshot” from where I spotted it while looking for birds. I would retraced my steps if was close to the path.
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he was smiling Mike…I’m glad you didn’t stay too long!
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