Did you know that our beloved Florida is the only place in the world where alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) and crocodiles (Crocodylus acutus) coexist? It's true. These prehistoric apex predators glide silently through Florida's waters, including our very own Leisure Lake. As May 29, National Alligator Day, approaches, be sure to visit our fabulous gazebo and observe our ancient neighbor, Fisher, with renewed respect—and distance. Celebrating the American alligator’s successful...

American crocodile, Crocodylus acutus Intended to raise awareness about the leading cause of death in the United States—cardiovascular disease—February is American Heart Month. While we all understand the importance of diet and exercise in maintaining and lowering blood pressure and LDL cholesterol for heart health, few realize that one group of vertebrates has an actively controlled, neuroregulated heart valve—crocodilians. Yep. Alligators and crocodiles have a special valve in their hearts...

Brigitte Bardot has influenced people and animals around the world. As the great-grandchild of French-Belgian immigrants, I knew her as a familiar face in my childhood home. Her movies "And God Created Woman" and "The Rum Runners" were family favorites, but by the time I was discovering her, she had already stepped away from the spotlight. In 1973, she shed the "sex symbol" label and auctioned her possessions to save the seals, famously saying: “I gave my beauty and my youth to men and now...