There’s a place in Florida where you can swim with alligators and not get eaten (ideally)

Yes, this is an actual thing.

More importantly, Gillette is also a professional wrangler for the state of Florida and has been training alligators for years. The animals at the refuge are all, that ended up in places they didn’t belong like backyards, near residential neighborhoods and schools. The gator with you on the tour is called Casper, named that because he’s “friendly,” like the famed cartoon ghost. What separates you from the roughly 10-foot-long, 250-pound apex predator is a net barrier. And of course, Gillette, who is 6-foot-5 and about the same weight as the big guy.

Guests behind the net observe Casper as he paddles by doing his thing, mostly checking you out with his big, black eyes and nibbling on small meat snacks doled out for good behavior. Another, smaller female named Little Foot may enter the pool party, depending on her mood. Andrew Ferguson, a recent participant, was still trembling five minutes after leaving the hair-raising encounter.

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