[tommy steam]

Originally Posted by ilovetv

Seeing this news video from Tampa linked below, on gators being more active (and aggressive) in hotter weather, reminds me of a troubling incident I saw on the boardwalk below the radio station at Lake Sumter Landing.

As most of you know, there are one or more giant-sized gators in the lake there by LSL and the Lighthouse Restaurant. Routinely, we see a giant one with massive head, near the boardwalk and there are always folks watching and looking for them to surface right there.

About a week ago, at night (it was getting dark, maybe around 9:00 p.m.), I was walking on the boardwalk and saw some young kids watching for the big gator. A couple of adults came up the steps and said, "The gator is there if you want to go look."

I went and stood beside the kids (ages 9 or so thru maybe 14) at the railing on the boardwalk, and everyone was hoping the gator would surface. I did see a splash where the gator had just been, right below the railing.

Several of the kids were extending themselves quite far over the railing to see down in there, but weren't exactly in danger of falling in (yet). They were reaching down toward the water a lot and were joking around and texting, ready to use their camera-phones.

As I talked with a girl who was about 9 years old, I said, "Yes......we do see a giant gator with enormous head in here quite often...you guys need to be very careful and not reach your hands down in there." At that, she said:

"Yeah, but the people told us that that is just a mechanical gator....nothin' to worry about."

I told her, "Well there are real gators in here that are huge, and they are nothing to mess around with. Be really careful along this railing!"

Have any of you heard of this "mechanical" gator stuff somebody would tell kids here??? That really upsets me!

Warm weather means gators are on the move | TBO.com

I dont remember seeing any, but are there sign warning about the gators on the boardwalk and other areas where gators might be?