My family and I have been to the Everglades. RESPECT them... That said...our biggest 'fear' is that this schmuck is going to write a book and make a whole lot of money on his stupidity and luck.

In my experience, I have done my share of hiking in the Florida swamps, the gators aren't a big problem as long as you make noise, stay aware of them and don't step on them.

Near a bank keep your feet on the bottom and shuffle your feet so you bump into instead of step on any submerged gator. Same method used to keep from stepping on a skate on the ocean. Bumping into them while they are dozing under, or mostly under, water and they tend to just slither away. Running you shin into a large meaty mass underwater, alligator skin isn't hard like a turtle shell but more like stiff rubber, and feeling it shift and then the thrust from the tail as it swims away, all this happening underwater, is disconcerting the first couple of times. Gators are just a whole lot more adept at fleeing in their natural environment than I am. I step back a bit in shock and they swim off.

Snakes, In my experience particularly water moccasins, and mosquitoes are much bigger problems than alligators.

I also suggest that anyone spending time around swamps to learn the fine art of using 'dummy cords'. Swamps are notorious for making anything that sinks disappear forever. I have lost a couple of small knives, a compass, and various other small items. If the water is clear and the bottom firm it isn't hard to retrieve most of what falls in. But if the bottom is soft, the water murky and full of neutral buoyant leaves you can drop a pocket knife and know exactly where you dropped it without being able to find it.

Best strategy is to stop and hold still when you drop something. In shallow water you reach straight down and gently feel around using a patting motion. In deeper water I have had luck using a bare foot to feel around in a similar motion. If your good, and lucky, you can retrieve what you drop.

Dummy cords, lanyards, make it all a lot easier. They save a lot of trouble in swamps, but are also generally useful around sugar sand or anywhere losing gear might be an issue. My compass, light and pocket knife get a lanyard attached when I go into the swamp. Using dummy cords I don't lose so much stuff. The most used stuff in my PSK have dummy cords.

Before anyone figures they are smart enough and together enough not to need such cords remember that if you do bump into a gator the last thing on your mind will be hanging onto that compass you were using at the time. Stuff happens in the woods and humans don't stay their sharpest for long, tired, terrified, dehydrated and borderline hypothermic it is easy to forget or drop gear. Or, as it happen once to me, miss the pocket when your putting equipment away.

Art - What's the strategy for cottonmouths?

I am not Art, but the best strategy is a 12 Ga. shotgun IME.

this guy has to be the stupidest, and luckiest, guy in south Florida.

I kinda meant along the lines of avoiding them, other than just staying out of the water. What I'm used to is copperheads, and my plan for those has always been to be cautious around rock overhangs and fallen trees.

The more I think about this, the more I wonder why I would ever slog around in a swamp in the first place. I believe I wouldn't.

Probably a good idea…

"Two more shots were subsequently heard, apparently further away each time."

What do you want to bet it sounded like he was moving because he WAS moving? Fire the gun, move, fire the gun, move. Dumb.

"Mosch said he’s accepted an offer from the owner to go back to the hunting camp in the Big Cypress in about a month."

We shall probably be hearing about this guy again... A GPS isn't going to fix stupid.

Sue

When I do that, they just point at each other

Backpedal a bit and throw or kick anything handy at them to see if they will break off. Pound your stick in front of them. Most will back off. Sometimes you can get the stick under it and flip them away. Most snakes seem to turn and run after being tossed in the air.

But if they come right at you and you feel really threatened you hit them with your stick. Even if they are swimming a strong blow will break their spine. Waaaay more effective than a gun. A good stick won't jam, disturb the peace, get you accused of poaching, have people thinking your with the local idiot militia, or attract thieves.

If you hike, especially in Florida, do carry a sturdy walking stick. Before you step into that murky water or blindly into dense brush you prod it with your stick. As far as footing goes three legs is better than two. Also saves wear on knees, steadies you on slopes and when crossing water. Two sticks make a stretcher. A good stick makes a tarp into a tent.