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.

[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.

[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

[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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[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).

[Speedbird-1]

Close encounter of the Alligatoridae kind!


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

[Blansky]

Looks like Nessy, or Ogopogo.

[SearChart]

It's not exactly a nile croc, but I sure wouldn't have my kids near that body if water...

[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

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by MitchSF

… They are not aggressive with people (mostly).

Sorry, the operative word there is “mostly” … that reads sort of funny to a snow bird like me (sort of).

[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.

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by Maleg

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

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[Blansky]

Originally Posted by Maleg

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

It's all that untanned skin, those gators just love.

[TK-710]

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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After that terribly tragic story from Disney World several years ago I don’t know how anyone could be cavalier about alligator.

[wesdaniel]

I grew up in Daytona Beach... alligators were just a part of life.

One of my first jobs was as a security guard at a boat manufacturing plant in Palm Coast. In our "post orders," there were clear instructions about how to deal with alligators on plant grounds and what we were, weren't allowed to do.

It's pretty much a non-issue to most locals I think.

[Krash]

No way I’m ever moving out of Florida for this. Not in a million years. We LOVE it here. Absolutely love it.

There is zero possibility of this gator harming my wife and I. I’m just raising a concern about the young children I’ve seen by the lakeside. And someone asked above, “how do you know the parents know?” Good question. Maybe they don’t but it seems like they should unless they’re living under a rock….gossip spreads like wildfire in this neighborhood…


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[MitchSF]

Agreed. We'll never leave Florida. I can wear any watch anywhere I go, without worrying about alligators. Or anything else, not to get into politics.