…I was searching blogs this morning and saw this at MT Politics. Apparently, a five foot alligator was dragged out of the Shady Lane Children’s Pond here in Kalispell on Monday.

Here’s the thing: I’m a really bad fisherman. When I get frustrated at not catching anything, Dan suggests we go to this pond, where I’m more likely to catch something (I caught my first ever fish there). I call it the remedial pond for this reason, well, remedial for me anyway, since I’m 28 years old, and got held back a grade at fisherman school. Being a children’s pond, it’s stocked with trout, and catch and release only for adults — it gives the kids a better chance, and they get to feel good about catching something.

Or, it was stocked with trout.

Last night (tuesday), I lost two lures in the river and threw my pole down in a huff. Off to the pond we went. Usually in the evening you can’t not catch a fish, it’s surprising they have room to swim. But after reading the Daily Interlake article this morning, it all became clear — the alligator got ‘em first.

A view of the pond

Another view of the pond, with some nice cattails

As we were leaving the pond

And on the way out, back to the car, I got some photos of these flowers