Wild Animal Predators Are Lurking Beneath Florida's Waters

Did you ever watch a movie set in Florida, and not think twice about characters frolicking in lakes or the beautiful springs; the areas of water other than the salt water ocean? Floridians know what lurks beneath these otherwise tepid bodies of water. In Florida's lakes, all throughout central specifically, there are giant alligators; some the size of small cars.

The ocean may have sharks, and nighttime is when the sharks are near the shoreline, yet many films are shot in Florida at lake settings, even at night, and wild animals do exist, often feeding in the evening as well. People who vacation in the sunshine state don't realize that the waters, in places, are teaming with wild predatory animals, who may mistake a toe or two for fish. It happens to the surfers all the time in New Smyrna Beach Florida, and this is during the daytime. Sharks can even get into canal areas from the Intra-coastal waterway. Gators and crocodiles have been spotted in the saltwater, migrating during mating season. Giant pythons are making their way out of the Everglades, through waterway channels, and slithering into Miami neighborhoods. Here are some examples of films where actors had a dip in paradise's waters, at their own risk.

China Moon: Fantastic Florida noir film, starring Ed Harris and Madeleine Stowe. The part where they are in the lake at night, and jump into the water from the rowboat, is priceless. That was filmed on location in Lakeland Florida. They don't call it Lakeland for naught. Lakeland is lush with beautiful natural lakes miles wide. Teeming with bass, there is an ample food supply for wild animals. That means fat gators.

Doc Hollywood: This film was shot in the Micanopy area, the same area close to Cross Creek, made famous by author Marjorie Kinan Rawlings. In the film, the female lead emerges from the water, naked, to a wide-eyed Michael J. Fox. Granted, the scene of the woman may distract one's attention away from the beauteous lake, but the animals possibly lurking around aren't star struck.

Creature from the Black Lagoon: This one is amazing, for there is actual footage of gators filmed on the water on the bottom of the spring, while the actors swim on top of the water! This film is a classic, and was shot on location in Silver Springs, in Ocala Florida.

Most predatory animals will not attack, only if hungry. Many people can safely swim in Florida's waters, even with gators on the bottom, though at their own risk. Most humorously, there are sometimes signs posted at the natural springs saying "swim at your own risk, gators present." Granted, animal trainers are often present on film shoots where wild predatory animals are present, and there are stunt doubles, utmost caution taken by those in the know, but one never knows what size snake may come lurking out of the shadows of a palmetto bush, or a dark area of water unexpectedly. This element of danger adds to the excitement of the scene, and Florida is unique in that way, aside from natural beauty.