How do you tell the difference between a gator and a log? If it doesn't dive or swim away as you get closer, it's a log. This one didn't go anywhere. This isn't a sabal palm but their trunks make excellent standins for gator backs when mostly submerged - over the years I've kept my eyes on many a tree trunk that was barely out of the water waiting for it to move, and many a gator that did move.