We left Naples and came to East Tampa. On the way here, we stopped at Mixon’s Orange Grove. We had popcorn, fudge, orange slices, and ice cream. It was really good vanilla and you could get it swirled with fresh made orange ice cream. Sis and I didn’t like the orange so we shared vanilla. Then we went to get on a tram ride. On the ride, we went through the orange grove (just like only ¾ of a mile). Then we stopped and the lady showed us the well and how they water their plants. It is pretty basic. All there is is a pipe under ground and then there are sprinklers for each individual tree. Then there are heaters for the plants too. She said that they don’t just grow oranges; they grow other citrus fruits also. She said that they have a wildlife area too.
Once she finished pointing out all the trees, we went to the wildlife area. There was a man who has a small area for animals who have been found or abused. He had about six areas for some animals. Once of the owls has a little cage which is for him. The owl’s favorite thing to do is sit and watch Animal Planet. The keeper said, “He’s worse to get away from the television than I am.” Before that though, we saw all kinds of animals. The first animals that we saw were a pair of raccoons. He said that they have a bad reputation just because they dig in your trash just to find food. The raccoons were quite cute close-up, and the keeper (Matthew) has only been bitten about two times each year. Then we went to see deer, but not your average deer. They were very miniature. Full grown, they only get to be about 17 inches high and about 35 pounds!
Then he got up on stage and showed us a python and a baby alligator. First, he showed us the baby alligator. He showed us how the baby calls his mom and showed us his teeth. The baby has a special call. The baby has little teeth but can still bite hard. Matthew gets bitten about two times a year. Then he let us touch the baby alligator, but I didn’t. Then Matthew said, “If this were 10 feet long, you could still use two fingers to close its mouth.”
Then Matthew got out the python and got back on stage. The python is only about two years old. It is 13 feet long and 56 pounds. That isn’t the length it will stay…it will get much bigger. She isn’t venomous though, she bites and squeezes, but she will only do that if you give her the opportunity to wrap around you. One time, Matthew even had that happen to him before. He had to run up to the store which was closed, so he had to go and flag down a car. The person was scared anyway but called 911. Then the firefighter came out with an ax but Matthew said, “You aren’t going to kill my snake.” Matthew told the firefighter to throw ice water on the snake & she let go of him. Sis actually held the snake!
Then we went and looked at a turtle and the owl that I talked about earlier. Then we got back on the tram and went back to the parking lot. We got back on the road and went to the campground.
Once she finished pointing out all the trees, we went to the wildlife area. There was a man who has a small area for animals who have been found or abused. He had about six areas for some animals. Once of the owls has a little cage which is for him. The owl’s favorite thing to do is sit and watch Animal Planet. The keeper said, “He’s worse to get away from the television than I am.” Before that though, we saw all kinds of animals. The first animals that we saw were a pair of raccoons. He said that they have a bad reputation just because they dig in your trash just to find food. The raccoons were quite cute close-up, and the keeper (Matthew) has only been bitten about two times each year. Then we went to see deer, but not your average deer. They were very miniature. Full grown, they only get to be about 17 inches high and about 35 pounds!
Then he got up on stage and showed us a python and a baby alligator. First, he showed us the baby alligator. He showed us how the baby calls his mom and showed us his teeth. The baby has a special call. The baby has little teeth but can still bite hard. Matthew gets bitten about two times a year. Then he let us touch the baby alligator, but I didn’t. Then Matthew said, “If this were 10 feet long, you could still use two fingers to close its mouth.”
Then Matthew got out the python and got back on stage. The python is only about two years old. It is 13 feet long and 56 pounds. That isn’t the length it will stay…it will get much bigger. She isn’t venomous though, she bites and squeezes, but she will only do that if you give her the opportunity to wrap around you. One time, Matthew even had that happen to him before. He had to run up to the store which was closed, so he had to go and flag down a car. The person was scared anyway but called 911. Then the firefighter came out with an ax but Matthew said, “You aren’t going to kill my snake.” Matthew told the firefighter to throw ice water on the snake & she let go of him. Sis actually held the snake!
Then we went and looked at a turtle and the owl that I talked about earlier. Then we got back on the tram and went back to the parking lot. We got back on the road and went to the campground.
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