They Are So Cute When They’re Sleeping

Last week I came upon this alligator that was snoozing contentedly in the swamp. It had found a nice comfy spot in among the soft green swamp weeds to take it’s afternoon nap. I guess he heard me rustling around there at the edge of the swamp because he lifted up his head just a bit, opened up his eyes and took a look at me. I felt bad that I had disturbed his rest, and he gave me a look as if to say…”oh it’s you again, that pesky photographer. Can you please keep it quiet so I can sleep?!”

I gave him his wish… after grabbing a couple of quick shots I moved on and left him dozing in his special spot. I didn’t go back to check on him, but I’m quite sure he went right back to sleep!

54 thoughts on “They Are So Cute When They’re Sleeping”

lylekrahn on February 26, 2013 at 12:16 pm said:

OK so my new expression will be sleeping like an alligator.

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on February 26, 2013 at 12:32 pm said:
  
  That sounds good.
  I know I have difficulty sleeping if everything on the bed isn’t just right.
  I don’t think I could sleep with my tail in the water, the middle part of my body in mud, and my head on some slimy swamp weeds. But what do I know?!
  
  Reply ↓
  - lylekrahn on February 26, 2013 at 12:35 pm said:
    
    I don’t think you should be too quick to judge until you’ve tried it 🙂
    
    Reply ↓
    - Phil Lanoue on February 26, 2013 at 12:53 pm said:
      
      Well I know I won’t want any annoying photographers bothering me when I’m trying to sleep. 😛
      
      Reply ↓
  - adinparadise on February 26, 2013 at 6:18 pm said:
    
    Me neither. 😀
    
    Reply ↓
    - Phil Lanoue on February 26, 2013 at 8:45 pm said:
      
      Hey! 😆
      
      Reply ↓
      - adinparadise on February 26, 2013 at 8:57 pm said:
        
        🙄
        
        Reply ↓
        
        Phil Lanoue on February 26, 2013 at 9:17 pm said:
        
        Reply ↓
        
        adinparadise on February 26, 2013 at 10:20 pm said:
        
        Okay, you win, Phil. I’ve run out of smileys. 😡
        
        Reply ↓
        
        Phil Lanoue on February 26, 2013 at 11:15 pm said:
        
        Heh heh OK but you left off a couple still… 😮 😎
        
        Reply ↓
        
        adinparadise on February 26, 2013 at 11:34 pm said:
        
        😳
niasunset on February 26, 2013 at 12:19 pm said:

he he he….. so cute! But you know just I love them in your photographs 🙂 Thank you, love, nia

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on February 26, 2013 at 12:33 pm said:
  
  Thank you Nia! So glad you think our boy here is cute. I’m sure he would appreciate the compliment. 🙂
  Very happy you are enjoying the photos!
  
  Reply ↓
meyer23 on February 26, 2013 at 12:59 pm said:

Really cute when they are sleeping. You won’t belive their explosive power if you see them this way.

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on February 26, 2013 at 1:11 pm said:
  
  Oh I have plenty of respect for what they can do, and have developed a healthy admiration for our alligator friends. 😀
  
  Reply ↓
Gracie on February 26, 2013 at 1:48 pm said:

At least they are getting used to you now, Phil 😉
Excellent shots.

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on February 26, 2013 at 8:45 pm said:
  
  Oh yeah they love me! Thanks Gracie!
  
  Reply ↓
monisertel on February 26, 2013 at 1:57 pm said:

Hi Phil,
really??? Cute???? I can’t believe it! 😉
But your pictures are great!!!
Have a nice day,
moni

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on February 26, 2013 at 8:46 pm said:
  
  Oh sure he is very cute! 😀
  Thanks moni for looking at these photos!
  
  Reply ↓
janmasyn on February 26, 2013 at 2:00 pm said:

Cute but dangerous, :-). Great shots Phil.

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on February 26, 2013 at 8:47 pm said:
  
  Thanks Jan but he’s not dangerous, he likes me. (well I hope he likes me) 😯
  
  Reply ↓
Garden Walk Garden Talk on February 26, 2013 at 2:29 pm said:

I don’t know, I think he is cute too. Just so he keeps his teeth in his closed mouth.

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on February 26, 2013 at 8:48 pm said:
  
  Alright! Another vote for cute!
  I just don’t want his mouth closed around my leg. 😯 But he wouldn’t do that. 🙂
  
  Reply ↓
dannadesigns on February 26, 2013 at 2:55 pm said:

He is really cool…and does kind of look like he is smiling while sleeping…Great captures!

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on February 26, 2013 at 8:48 pm said:
  
  Oh yes quite cool, and a nice smily face too! Thanks much for looking and commenting!
  
  Reply ↓
Chillbrook on February 26, 2013 at 3:28 pm said:

Mmm.. wouldn’t go so far as cute but.. well OK he does look kinda cute. Smashing shots Phil. I’m glad for your sake he wasn’t the grumpy sort..! 🙂

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on February 26, 2013 at 8:49 pm said:
  
  “kinda cute”…he’ll take it! 😀 Thanks a bunch Adrian and happy you like these pics!
  
  Reply ↓
Gunta on February 26, 2013 at 5:05 pm said:

I’m still hoping you’re using a good, long lens… 😉

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on February 26, 2013 at 8:50 pm said:
  
  Well it’s long, but our sleepy boy here is not interested in coming after me, he likes me! (well, that’s what I’m hopin)
  
  Reply ↓
roughseasinthemed on February 26, 2013 at 5:14 pm said:

I’d give him a cuddle if it wasn’t for that naughty grin on the second shot. It’s those little legs that do it for me. They are adorable. The mouth not quite so. Chomp!

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on February 26, 2013 at 9:10 pm said:
  
  Well he’s not exactly roll him over and scratch his belly cute, but he does have a nice smile! 😀
  
  Reply ↓
adinparadise on February 26, 2013 at 6:24 pm said:

I think “cute” might not be quite the right word, Phil. 🙂 I’m with Gunta…..hope you aren’t too close when taking your amazing pics. He looks really wily in that last shot. I’m sure he was thinking how good you’d taste for lunch, but was just too lazy to make the effort. 😯

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on February 26, 2013 at 9:12 pm said:
  
  Well he’s sorta cute. 😕 😀 I don’t think he wants me over for lunch, I eat too much. 😛
  Thanks for looking Sylvia!
  
  Reply ↓
photosfromtheloonybin on February 26, 2013 at 7:57 pm said:

Great shots! Maybe he’s resting after a big meal and that’s why he’s so happy :). Hey guess what?? We are going down to visit my parents where they are staying on Isle of Palms for a week in March. I know you are further north than that, but any suggestions you might have for places to see wildlife in that area would be greatly appreciated. I would love to see even a fraction of what you see :).

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on February 26, 2013 at 9:14 pm said:
  
  Thanks I’m so happy you like the photos of our pal Mr. Gator! I saw his big brother today. 😯 I’ll post those pics at some point.
  I’m not very familier with the IoP area but I’ll ask around and if I find out anything I will let you know. 🙂
  
  Reply ↓
  - photosfromtheloonybin on February 26, 2013 at 9:18 pm said:
    
    Thanks Phil 🙂
    
    Reply ↓
Bella Remy Photography on February 26, 2013 at 8:39 pm said:

I can totally see him think “Oh jeez, it’s the paparrazzi again.” 🙂

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on February 26, 2013 at 9:16 pm said:
  
  That’s quite possible. Some of them may be tired of having me around all the time. We saw this guy’s big brother this afternoon and he made a noise that’s hard to describe and harder to translate. I’m not sure what he said but it did not sound extremely friendly. 😯 🙂
  
  Reply ↓
Amy on February 26, 2013 at 10:58 pm said:

Enjoy watching how he is taking a nap. Glad I did not miss the fun conversation you guys had earlier about sleep. 😀

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on February 27, 2013 at 10:18 am said:
  
  These guys excell at napping! We should all sleep this well. 🙂
  Thanks for looking Amy!
  
  Reply ↓
Littlesundog on February 26, 2013 at 11:50 pm said:

I can’t see myself ever photographing that species! I think I’ll just enjoy YOUR wonderful shots! Great work, Phil!

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on February 27, 2013 at 10:19 am said:
  
  Well I’m happy you checked in and enjoyed these pics! Thanks for the kind comments!
  
  Reply ↓
david @ studio tuesday on February 27, 2013 at 12:05 am said:

Such a cool skin texture!

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on February 27, 2013 at 10:23 am said:
  
  Alligators have a rough hide that’s for sure. They are about the closest thing we have to a living dinosaur.
  
  Reply ↓
thehappyhugger on February 27, 2013 at 5:01 am said:

I dunno, I’d be a bit scared of getting too close to a sleeping gator! Nice pics though 🙂

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on February 27, 2013 at 10:24 am said:
  
  Better though being close to one that’s sleeping then one that is awake and really mad at you. 😀
  Thanks for checking out the pics!
  
  Reply ↓
Kate on February 27, 2013 at 10:59 am said:

I love his sly little grin. Makes you wonder what he’s thinking. ; )

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on February 27, 2013 at 11:45 am said:
  
  He does have a sly little grin doesn’t he?! 🙂 I would love to know just what some of these animals are thinking. Maybe this guy just wants me to leave so he can sleep in peace? 😀
  
  Reply ↓
shoreacres on February 27, 2013 at 11:00 am said:

He looks so comfortable, lazing away in that sunshine. Do alligators ever make little noises of pleasure, like a cat purring? He looks like he ought to be purring, but I’m pretty sure they don’t do that!

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on February 27, 2013 at 11:49 am said:
  
  Oh he is very comfortable indeed! I have seen them take more time then you would think picking out just the *right* spot to nap comfortably. 🙂
  Funny you should mention noises, yesterday afternoon we saw this boy’s big brother in the swamp and at one point he made what I can only describe as a sort of ‘huffing’ sound. He puffed up his lower throat and exhaled loudly which made a somewhat disturbing noise. Not sure what it meant. Could be he was saying Hi but I don’t think so.
  Thanks for looking at these photos!
  
  Reply ↓
Katariina Partala on February 27, 2013 at 12:00 pm said:

I never thought I’d call an alligator cute, but… He’s cute indeed!!! :O

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on March 1, 2013 at 12:27 pm said:
  
  Oh he’s plenty cute!! 😀 Thanks for looking!
  
  Reply ↓
Gareth Rasberry on February 27, 2013 at 7:47 pm said:

Excellent find and superb background colors, Phil!

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on March 1, 2013 at 12:27 pm said:
  
  Thanks much Gareth, glad you liked these!
  
  Reply ↓