[DougB]

Originally Posted by buggyone

I will most likely get flack for posting this.

The people get into the alligator's habitat and then it is the alligator that gets killed by the people. We all know that where there is water in Florida, there is very likely an alligator. Getting to the edge of a water hazard is an invite to the alligator to attack. The alligator at Turtle Mound will not be "relocated" to a marsh away from people to live out his estimated 35 years of life. He will be dragged out of the pond after being hooked by a large treble hook and will then be shot to death. The alligator killer will get to sell the alligator skin for a good price and the meat will be sold to tourist restaurants.

It is great that your friend escaped unharmed. I am sure he did get medical care for the puncture wound as an alligator does have all sorts of bacteria in his mouth and it can cause a serious infection.

You don't need to be near water to encounter a gator here. We saw one go into our neighbor's garage the other day. Don't know what could have happened had he gone into his garage to get in his car without knowing it was there. One of my very brave other neighbor's grabbed it while I taped his mouth shut. We took it down to the preserve down the street, untaped it, and let it go.