Believe it or not, “Trapper Jack” Douglas has never been seriously injured on the job. He’s had to stop in for a scrape here and there—such as a small coyote bite he got treated at St. Joseph’s/Candler’s Pooler Campus recently. But he attributes his 78 years of life to clean living and common sense.
“I’m a Christian, and I don’t do stupid things,” he says with a grin. “I want to be here tomorrow.”
Getting out into nature has several health benefits including fresh air, moderate exercise, a decrease in stress levels and improved sleep. The outdoors can be safely shared with wildlife if you stick to a few rules:
- Never feed an alligator or any other kind of wildlife.
- Don’t walk on the edge of a lake or pond that may have an alligator.
- Don’t let your dog run in and out of the water during your walk. “That’s just calling them gators,” Douglas says.
- Pack a basic first aid kit, flashlight, water and snacks.
- Swim only in designated areas in nature parks. If you see an alligator near a swimming area, notify park staff. They may need to give Trapper Jack a call!
