Quote:
Originally Posted by Dr Winston O Boogie jr
I've been here for almost eleven years. I also lived in Florida for five years back in the eighties. I've never seen an alligator outside of a pond or lying on the edge of a pond. I've heard three stories where one was spotted walking down a street or in someone's back yard. I saw one story where one was on someone's front porch at night.
Alligators are not aggressive unless they are threatened. They eat about once every one to three weeks. They spend most of their lives at the bottom of ponds, lakes and rivers. Generally if you approach and alligator, they will jump into the water.
I've heard of two or three instances in the Villages where one attacked a small dog. Usually it was when the dog owner was walking their pet along the edge of a pond.
Also in the sixteen years that I've lived in Florida, I've seen a few venomous snakes. Mostly water moccasins in a pond on a golf course where I used to work. I occasionally see black racer snakes which are harmless and run away when approached.
In general, alligators and snakes are not a problem. You should be aware of where they are when close to ponds.
We also have pygmy rattle snakes down here. I've never seen one but I make sure that I have a club with me when going into native areas on a golf course.
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Well, paragraph one said "saw a story" like maybe (?) it was some kind of lie. Those are MUCH more than just a story - there are 2 different pictures of Gators perched on front porches in THIS VERY thread. And I believe that there was an instance recently in Tampa where several BIG Gators crossed a busy highway.
......They are prehistoric and have pea brains and have no, ZERO fear of humans. As a matter of fact when I lived in the south center of Fl. often in BIG thunderstorms I and MANY other people would hit a gator on a state highway. I almost lost control of the car after hitting a 4 footer and it was NOT dead, it slithered away. You almost never see a dead on on the side of the road - but I have seen just about EVERY animal on the side of the road. I once saw a 1/2 alive Golden Eagle on the side of a road that had gotten hit by an 18-wheeler. He was getting blown around every time a truck passed by the wind, but it could not fly away. I stopped and pulled him (or her) back from the road. I put on welders gloves and used vice-grips to hold onto his claws as I pulled.
........Strangely, it had one good eye and one busted eye and as I pulled.... its head turned over and its good eye looked right into my eyes .......and IT DIED. Very freaky.....I said earlier that I have NOT lead a sheltered life.