Neighborhood gator

[Krash]

I’m thinking that it’s one foot from the tip of the snout to the eyes (maybe more). If you extrapolate from there and stretch it out to its longest length, it could be 8 or 9 feet.

Everyone knows it’s been swimming in the lake for the last week or so. It’s been on our neighborhood Facebook page. Mail messages have also been sent out to our neighborhood distribution list. But yet I continue to see young children play by the lake everyday.





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[Easy E]

Somebody needs a new pair of boots

[AzPaul]

But yet I continue to see young children play by the lake everyday.

Four kids last week, three kids this week, only two next week.

[Romeojk]

How’s a retired guy supposed to nap in the backyard with those things around?

[TK-710]

If I lived near a lake in Florida I would always just assume there is a gator in it.

[TRS1]

Originally Posted by TK-710

If I lived near a lake in Florida I would always just assume there is a gator in it.

This

[Krash]

Originally Posted by TK-710

If I lived near a lake in Florida I would always just assume there is a gator in it.

That’s a good assumption to make. But in NE Florida, there are some months of the year that are much safer than others. Alligators are cold blooded and dormant in December, January, and February. They don’t hibernate like bears, but they don’t leave their dens because it’s too cold for them. I’d imagine this isn’t the case in south Florida, where it is warmer, but I’m not sure.

Alligators are not bashful either. Generally, if there is a gator in the lake, you know it. You see it swimming. If you don’t see one for weeks at a time, then chances are there isn’t one.

Also, when we first moved down here, our neighbors told us that birds are a good indicator. If you see a lot of egrets, cranes, herons, etc., then a gator being present is less likely. But I personally wouldn’t bet on that.


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[Speedbird-1]

Close encounter of the Alligatoridae kind!


https://youtube.com/shorts/UC-7nNldo...wjRlaJJP0p9JuA

[enjoythemusic]

Gator tail is tasty. It'll make a lot timepiece bands too :)

[Maleg]

Originally Posted by enjoythemusic

Gator tail is tasty. It'll make a lot timepiece bands too :)

My thoughts exactly.

[piratfisk]

Originally Posted by enjoythemusic

Gator tail is tasty. It'll make a lot timepiece bands too :)

Absolutely! It's not like you'd be creating some environmental disaster removing one ancient apex predator from Florida... Have yourself some gator nuggets & a few new watch straps.

[enjoythemusic]

Originally Posted by piratfisk

Absolutely! It's not like you'd be creating some environmental disaster removing one ancient apex predator from Florida... Have yourself some gator nuggets & a few new watch straps.

Good man, and perhaps a pair of shoes and/or alligator belt as a bonus.


Am glad some here are afraid, Florida is 100% FULL. So ya'll should consider moving to NY, or NJ, or even better go live in the Republic Of California

FL: We don't need anyone else moving all up in here. We're good

[superdog]

Originally Posted by enjoythemusic

Good man, and perhaps a pair of shoes and/or alligator belt as a bonus.


Am glad some here are afraid, Florida is 100% FULL. So ya'll should consider moving to NY, or NJ, or even better go live in the Republic Of California

FL: We don't need anyone else moving all up in here. We're good

I am confident you will be thrilled to hear this, but I could not agree with you more.

Spent the first two months of the year in Delray Beach. Then back and forth to see the parents. Just got back an hour ago actually. Flew in yesterday to surprise them for the holiday.

Anyway, Florida is PACKED. People everywhere. And while a fun place to visit, I have firmly decided I do not want to live there (this is the part I figured you'd be thrilled about). Certainly not yet anyway. Might have no choice in the future. But that is another story for another time.

And the savings that people get just does not seem to be there. Not anymore anyway. And again, all the people. Yikes.

In regard to OP, gators ARE scary. Those parents are nuts. I would not let my dog close, let alone a kid.

[Krash]

Originally Posted by superdog

I am confident you will be thrilled to hear this, but I could not agree with you more.

Spent the first two months of the year in Delray Beach. Then back and forth to see the parents. Just got back an hour ago actually. Flew in yesterday to surprise them for the holiday.

Anyway, Florida is PACKED. People everywhere. And while a fun place to visit, I have firmly decided I do not want to live there (this is the part I figured you'd be thrilled about). Certainly not yet anyway. Might have no choice in the future. But that is another story for another time.

And the savings that people get just does not seem to be there. Not anymore anyway. And again, all the people. Yikes.

In regard to OP, gators ARE scary. Those parents are nuts. I would not let my dog close, let alone a kid.

Thank goodness. Fantastic news. We don’t want anyone else moving here.
:)

Just kidding…

Also, it depends where you live down here. It’s definitely not more populated compared to where I moved from. That’s for sure…


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[enjoythemusic]

Originally Posted by superdog

Anyway, Florida is PACKED. People everywhere..

Exactly, FL needs to close the borders.

[Krash]

Originally Posted by enjoythemusic

Good man, and perhaps a pair of shoes and/or alligator belt as a bonus.


Am glad some here are afraid, Florida is 100% FULL. So ya'll should consider moving to NY, or NJ, or even better go live in the Republic Of California

FL: We don't need anyone else moving all up in here. We're good

Exactly!


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[TK-710]

Originally Posted by enjoythemusic

Good man, and perhaps a pair of shoes and/or alligator belt as a bonus.


Am glad some here are afraid, Florida is 100% FULL. So ya'll should consider moving to NY, or NJ, or even better go live in the Republic Of California

FL: We don't need anyone else moving all up in here. We're good

I always find these statements hilarious. I’m the only member of my family currently not living in Florida. Some have been there for three- four generations or longer while others are first generation. Just depends which fork in the family tree you take. Seems the newer you are to Florida the more likely you are to tell others they’re not welcome. Good thing no one needs anyone else’s permission. Even more ironic is the amount of money in Florida today that came directly from places like NY and NJ. There’s a reason it’s earned the nickname “God’s waiting room.” It a giant retirement community for the rest of the country. Oh yeah they’re going to keep coming.

[enjoythemusic]

Originally Posted by TK-710

I always find these statements hilarious..... Oh yeah they’re going to keep coming.

Someone has to be the TRF unauthorized #FloridaMan. .

Pre '76, so not my entire life yet have done the 'tour' of Miami, ... near Skeeters,... and now in God's Waiting Room (helping mom and dad living on God's Island With Key Club for years, mom passed a bit back... it's a typical Florida life).

You do make a good point, they

just

keep

coming.

They also keep building on an industrial scale. Developers makin' bank!

[Maleg]

Originally Posted by piratfisk

Absolutely! It's not like you'd be creating some environmental disaster removing one ancient apex predator ….

Not true! You are robbing some poor invasive python of its dinner.

[TNT009]

Nope!

[austinp]

Noc?


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[S’portEye]

As swamp people would say, “Choot it!!”

[996marty]

That would keep me away from the lake

[MitchSF]

We have them behind our house, too. They don't bother anyone. When one comes up on the shoreline, security approaches and they run back into the lake. They are not aggressive with people (mostly).

[Krash]

Originally Posted by MitchSF

We have them behind our house, too. They don't bother anyone. When one comes up on the shoreline, security approaches and they run back into the lake. They are not aggressive with people (mostly).

Yeah, it’s common for us to have gators in our lake, too. And you’re right about them not being aggressive. Statistically, you’re more likely to get attacked by a dog in PA than an alligator in FL.

What really bugs me about this one is how cavalier and lackadaisical the neighborhood parents seem to be. This one is much larger than the usual alligators we see in our lake. Neighbors are now saying it’s likely more than 10 feet in length.

My kids are adults and living on their own now. We’re empty nesters. But we would never let our kids play by the lake—without any supervision—while this thing is swimming in it.


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[Romeojk]

Originally Posted by Krash

Yeah, it’s common for us to have gators in our lake, too. And you’re right about them not being aggressive. Statistically, you’re more likely to get attacked by a dog in PA than an alligator in FL.

What really bugs me about this one is how cavalier and lackadaisical the neighborhood parents seem to be. This one is much larger than the usual alligators we see in our lake.

My kids are adults and living on their own now. We’re empty nesters. But we would never let our kids play by the lake—without any supervision—while this thing is swimming in it.


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Are you sure the parents know. It does seem a bit strange to let little kids play that close. It’s so easy to assume. I’m curious to understand their reasoning.

If I think back to my youth, I probably would’ve wanted to be with my friends and be close enough to see it, then to draw it in, and then to get it to chase us. It sometimes surprises me I made it this long. All this would continue until I trip and almost get a chunk taken out, then that would be enough of taunting alligators for one lifetime.

And today me, I now no longer want to live in FL. I now understand why people want to live in AZ.

[Maleg]

Originally Posted by Romeojk

Are you sure the parents know. It does seem a bit strange to let little kids play that close. It’s so easy to assume. I’m curious to understand their reasoning.

If I think back to my youth, I probably would’ve wanted to be with my friends and be close enough to see it, then to draw it in, and then to get it to chase us. It sometimes surprises me I made it this long. All this would continue until I trip and almost get a chunk taken out, then that would be enough of taunting alligators for one lifetime.

And today me, I now no longer want to live in FL. I now understand why people want to live in AZ.

In my youth someone would have bet that we could wrestle the gator. If beer was involved, someone would have tried.

[MitchSF]

Originally Posted by Romeojk

And today me, I now no longer want to live in FL. I now understand why people want to live in AZ.

Only because of alligators? Not something we often think about.

Years ago I was kayaking with friends on a canal in the Everglades. We turned a corner, to see several very large alligators watching us from the shore. That's all they did. They probably found us interesting, but not as food.

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by Krash

Yeah, it’s common for us to have gators in our lake, too. And you’re right about them not being aggressive. Statistically, you’re more likely to get attacked by a dog in PA than an alligator in FL.

What really bugs me about this one is how cavalier and lackadaisical the neighborhood parents seem to be. This one is much larger than the usual alligators we see in our lake. Neighbors are now saying it’s likely more than 10 feet in length.

My kids are adults and living on their own now. We’re empty nesters. But we would never let our kids play by the lake—without any supervision—while this thing is swimming in it.


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That’d be enough to make me want to move

[Maleg]

Originally Posted by brandrea

That’d be enough to make me want to move

Very wise. I’ve read that Canadian snowbirds are a delicacy for Florida gators.