So I Bought A Battery Powered Lawn Mower

Yes, I am one of the few people in Southwest Florida that mows my own yard. There's a guy that does a lot of the houses in my neighborhood in Estero, and he said he'd do mine for $120 a month. But, I actually like mowing lawn. At least I did until my mower stopped working. That's what led me to getting a battery powered lawn mower.

For the last 6 or so months I've been struggling to keep my mower running. Changed the gas cap, spark plug, and air filter. Changed the oil, cleaned the fuel lines, and did my best to clean the carburetor. It'd help for a while and then - dead. It was causing anxiety for something that I used to enjoy. (Yes, I'm originally from the Midwest.) Mowing the lawn is one of the few times that I'm free from distractions, notifications, and the constant barrage of technology. So I needed to make a change.

Now this isn't a sponsored article for a certain brand, or one of those pieces that compares a bunch a different mowers. It's just that I was hesitant about buying a battery powered lawn mower. I've been mowing with a gas mower since I was, I dunno, 10. But it was recommended to me that I should mow on Thursday nights after work. To free up Saturday. So I wanted a mower that had headlights, and one that wasn't as loud, no need to upset the neighbors.  That brought me to battery power.

Pretty easy. From the box, the battery took 1 hour and 2 minutes to charge. There was really no assembly to the mower, just fold out and extend the handle. Check out the battery, it looks like some sort of alien spaceship.

I played some GTA V for a bit while I waited for the battery to charge. Then it was time to try it out. And - I'm loving it. Any of the negative things that were said about battery powered lawn mowers is wrong. Power - it seems to be at least as powerful as the Honda GCV 160. Battery - I have a 20 minute lawn and the battery indicator went down one light. Looks like I can get another 2 (or maybe 3) mows before I need to charge. Plus it runs quiet enough that I don't need to turn my ear buds up as loud.

The mower is light and easy to deal with, and unlike gas mowers, you can fold it and store it upright in the garage. I live in Florida where there's no basements and the HOA doesn't allow sheds, so space is always a premium. I can set the mower next to the tool case.

If your gas mower works, keep using it. But if you're in the market for a new mower, it's time to consider a battery powered one. Here's why.

Remember back when electric cars were kind of a joke? Tiny little underpowered things. Now electric cars are fast and powerful. My neighbor Brian uses his Tesla to haul a trailer. Battery powered lawn mowers are the same. The earlier models were weak with short battery life. Not anymore.

As for the headlights, not yet. I finished up before it got dark. I'll start later next Thursday so I can try them out.

In the world of Florida alligators, courtship typically begins during the month of April. May and June are the usual alligator mating season. Though we are only two weeks into the month, there have already been a handful of reports in the state detailing strange alligator behavior.

Last week in Oviedo, a crew of public workers were surprised to find a five-foot alligator staring at them while examining a stormwater pipe. They had been tasked with looking into various potholes in Seminole County.

"Using a four-wheeled remote-control robot with a built-in camera, the team scrutinized the underground piping for any defects or blockages, only to discover a 5-foot alligator blocking the drains," Newsweek reported. Apparently, the crew followed the alligator through the pipe. Eventually, their robotic camera got dismantled and the alligator roamed away. The Newsweek report has still of the incident.

In the Fort White area, three women were casually floating down the Ichetucknee River on tubes. Suddenly, they were greeted by an alligator hissing at them. The alligator was resting upon a log. It was believed to be protecting its nest. Fox 13 secured some video clips of the strange sounds.

Last week, a Kendall resident found a not-so-friendly alligator enjoying a swim in their backyard pool. UPI reported that wildlife officials responded to the call and attempted to capture the 10-foot gator. The pool was not screened in. There is also a body of water close by where they believe the alligator might have come from. A crew member who came to the rescue explained that any alligator captured over four feet will be put in captivity.

Finally, Field and Stream has footage of other recent strange occurrences that have happened during alligator mating season. These include one alligator bending a metal fence, one walking across the street in Naples, and one at the front door of a house.

Here are a few things to know about the May and June alligator mating season in Florida.

You are more likely too see an alligator during mating season. Mating season aligns to this time of year partially due to the weather warming up. This in turn makes the alligators more comfortable with coming out. It was not uncommon for alligators to be seen more than usual this past winter due to the weather being warmer this year.

These are the times of day when an alligator is most active. They can be found in any body of water. They react to any splashing of water. At water's edge, they likely think any movement is an animal. Lower water levels also increase their movement abilities.

There are some general precautions you can take during alligator mating season. You should never feed them. In Florida, it's against the law to feed any animal living in the wild. It also makes them more comfortable around humans when you you feed them; it also teaches them to associate people with food. Keep your pets away from alligator friendly areas and bodies of water that have rising waters. Be aware that the size of the alligator does not matter in regards to how much damage it can cause. Smaller sized are also dangerous. If you were being chased by an alligator, it is best to run away in a straight line.

Lastly, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission can always be contacted here, where you can also find additional information.