Sam,
I love gators. I also love baby ducks, shore birds, cats , little dogs and little people. I just said that be careful . Gators are known to eat other little animals ! :
In the past 3 winters, they had put the gators back in Lake Miona, away from the Ashland pond. Many, many people walked their little dogs around the lake. When the sail boaters are here twice a week, even little grandchildren walk up to the pond. People just need to be careful.