ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. -- Talk about a job that keeps you on your toes! Look no further than the St. Augustine Alligator Farm. Hundreds of alligators, including one of the world's largest salt water crocodiles, need constant attention and upkeep.
That's where people like Jen Walkowich come in. As one of the farm's reptile keepers, it's her job to make sure the filtration system is cleaned out and running smoothly. In short, she needs to clean up the waste left behind by these massive creatures. And when you're dealing with Maximo, one of the worlds largest salt water crocs at 1,200 pounds and 16 feet in length, that means a big mess to clean. Thankfully, it's a job that only has to be done once a month.
Inside the pit, there's never a dull moment. That's often where assistant curator of reptiles Jim Darlington can be found. When he's not feeding the alligators, he's cleaning up the pit or putting on demonstrations. All while keeping a close eye on where he's standing. While all the alligators have been raised on the farm and appeared to be trained, there's still an unpredictable element to his work.
Perhaps the most interesting part of my visit to the farm was finding out what they feed the alligators. It looks like dog food, but is specially designed to meet the nutritional needs of alligators. You would think they were eating steak they way they flocked to it.
For more info about the farm, exhibits and park hours go to
http://www.alligatorfarm.us/
