'Alligator Annie' Miller, Swamp Tour Pioneer

[Louisiana Lou]

'Alligator Annie,' Louisiana's Swamp Tour Pioneer, Dies

(Big Bayou Black-AP) -- Annie Miller, a Cajun naturalist credited with
founding Louisiana's first swamp boat tour business 25 years ago, has died.
She was 89. Miller, better known as "Alligator Annie," suffered from heart
disease and died Monday. Her health forced her to turn her well-known swamp
tour shop over to her son Jimmy Bonvillain last year.

She was born west of Houma on the Bayou Black river, grew up trapping with
her parents and raised two children on the swamp. For 18 years, she and her
late husband Eddie Miller caught up to 200 snakes a day to sell to zoos and
laboratories. In the early 1970s, the couple tamed two otters they had
caught playing in the Bayou Black swamps. The animals were later sold to
Walt Disney Productions and featured in two movies: "An Otter in the Family"
and "A Day in Teton Marsh."

http://www.wafb.com/Global/story.asp?S=1630513

[DGH]

.

Not to be confused with Ann Miller, who also died recently.

- - - -

Post by Louisiana Lou
'Alligator Annie,' Louisiana's Swamp Tour Pioneer, Dies
(Big Bayou Black-AP) -- Annie Miller, a Cajun naturalist credited with
founding Louisiana's first swamp boat tour business 25 years ago, has died.
She was 89. Miller, better known as "Alligator Annie," suffered from heart
disease and died Monday. Her health forced her to turn her well-known swamp
tour shop over to her son Jimmy Bonvillain last year.
She was born west of Houma on the Bayou Black river, grew up trapping with
her parents and raised two children on the swamp. For 18 years, she and her
late husband Eddie Miller caught up to 200 snakes a day to sell to zoos and
laboratories. In the early 1970s, the couple tamed two otters they had
caught playing in the Bayou Black swamps. The animals were later sold to
Walt Disney Productions and featured in two movies: "An Otter in the Family"
and "A Day in Teton Marsh."
http://www.wafb.com/Global/story.asp?S=1630513

[EvelynMcH]

Post by Louisiana Lou

Post by Louisiana Lou
'Alligator Annie,' Louisiana's Swamp Tour Pioneer, Dies
(Big Bayou Black-AP) -- Annie Miller, a Cajun naturalist credited with
founding Louisiana's first swamp boat tour business 25 years ago, has died.
She was 89. Miller, better known as "Alligator Annie," suffered from heart
disease and died Monday. Her health forced her to turn her well-known swamp
tour shop over to her son Jimmy Bonvillain last year.
She was born west of Houma on the Bayou Black river, grew up trapping with
her parents and raised two children on the swamp. For 18 years, she and her
late husband Eddie Miller caught up to 200 snakes a day to sell to zoos and
laboratories. In the early 1970s, the couple tamed two otters they had
caught playing in the Bayou Black swamps. The animals were later sold to
Walt Disney Productions and featured in two movies: "An Otter in the

Family"

Post by Louisiana Lou
and "A Day in Teton Marsh."
http://www.wafb.com/Global/story.asp?S=1630513

So some reason, I can't get the song "Polk Salad Annie" out of my head right
now....

"...gator got your granny...."
-=>epm<=-

In matters of truth and justice,
there is no difference between large and small problems,
for issues concerning the treatment of people are all the same.
- Albert Einstein

[Louisiana Lou]

Post by EvelynMcH

Post by Louisiana Lou

Post by Louisiana Lou
'Alligator Annie,' Louisiana's Swamp Tour Pioneer, Dies
(Big Bayou Black-AP) -- Annie Miller, a Cajun naturalist credited with
founding Louisiana's first swamp boat tour business 25 years ago, has died.
She was 89. Miller, better known as "Alligator Annie," suffered from heart
disease and died Monday. Her health forced her to turn her well-known swamp
tour shop over to her son Jimmy Bonvillain last year.
She was born west of Houma on the Bayou Black river, grew up trapping with
her parents and raised two children on the swamp. For 18 years, she and her
late husband Eddie Miller caught up to 200 snakes a day to sell to zoos and
laboratories. In the early 1970s, the couple tamed two otters they had
caught playing in the Bayou Black swamps. The animals were later sold to
Walt Disney Productions and featured in two movies: "An Otter in the

Family"

Post by Louisiana Lou
and "A Day in Teton Marsh."
http://www.wafb.com/Global/story.asp?S=1630513

So some reason, I can't get the song "Polk Salad Annie" out of my head right
now....
"...gator got your granny...."

LOL! Me too. "Polk Salad Annie" (1969) - Written and performed by Tony Joe
White, native of Oak Grove, LA, now based in Nashville. Also famous for
having written "A Rainy Night in Georgia", and "Son of a Preacher Man" among
others. He's still kickin'.
http://www.tonyjoewhite.net/

Alligator Annie (not to be confused w/ dancer Ann Miller) was the subject of
many Charles Kuralt-type news features. She'd call the gators by name, and
they'd come up to the boat for a whole chicken or two or three. <chomp,
chomp!>