In 2016 we attempted to trap alligators in the cypress/mixed deciduous forests of east Texas. Panupong Thammachoti (now professor at Culalongkorn University, Thailand) accompanied me on the trip. We saw several alligators on our two mile paddle into a remote patch of forest where we camped. We spotlight surveyed at night and came within feet of at least one 10 foot plus alligator. We baited our traps on the end of a trigger designed to draw the opening closed when set. In the end, our traps came up empty but we explored some amazing wild places that are rarely visited and probably never camped in by other people.
Empty Forests 