Talk of The Villages Florida - View Single Post - Golfer in water at Palmer
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Old 05-13-2013, 09:39 AM
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ajbrown ajbrown is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dr Winston O Boogie jr View Post
I agree, they are very scary. But the reason that they growl is that they are trying to scare you away. They don't want to attack you. They'd rather you run away. Most gator bite occur when someone accidentally steps on one or threatens it's nest.
Ball divers live in fear that they will accidentally get near a nest. That's when they get bit.
And I agree with you. I wouldn't go into that water but a lot of people do. many kids that grow up in Florida are very used to swimming with gators in the vicinity. Of course many of us grow up swimming the ocean as well. Some people from the midwest refuse to go into the ocean for fear of getting bitten by a shark.
Actually from what I read they HISS as a warning, and what I called a growl is to show off for a mate. My attempt at humor in an earlier post fails if the gator is not growling for a mate. A better term I have read is the BELLOW, instead of growl. Either way I never get close enough to bother them!

I grew up in the Oceans of Cape Cod and I still prefer a pool. The heck with sharks, how about crabs and jelly fish... The older I get the whimpier....