Did you know that alligators seldom eat when water temperatures are colder than 72 degrees. Gators can go for months without eating in the winter because they cannot digest their food when it is cold. When air temperatures are warmer than water temps, gators come out to bask in the sun. Fortunately, this happens when the most residents and visitors are on island to see them. Unfortunately, this may scare people who don’t understand they are not laying in wait for people but just trying to get their reptilian body warm.

On Tuesday, Feb. 15, The Dunes and the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF) invite all alligator lovers as well as those who fear them to learn more about these dinosaurs that live amongst us. The program will begin at 5 p.m. at The Dunes, located at 949 Sand Castle Road on Sanibel.

Last winter many reptiles suffered when water temperatures remained below 55 degrees for two weeks. Sea turtles were rescued and then released when the water warmed up. At that time, our only crocodile — as well as 70 others in Florida — died during that same extended cold.

No reservations are needed to attend this program; just call The Dunes at 472-3355 or Dee at SCCF for more information.