Rats and Alligators

[Best Mom]

We are still fighting rats running around the mailboxes and pool at Ashland. Now this AM we were watching an alligator swimming in the retention pond near the pool. People in the pool said there are three alligators in there. The Villages use to take them out but that is another service they have cut. :dontknow:
Just be very careful with small dogs etc. I guess the wild cats have been made into gator food. The birds and ducks have disappeared too.!

[redwitch]

From what I've heard, TV still removes gators out of the ponds. I know there was one in Tall Trees and my friends and their neighbors were asked to watch to see if the gator ate the bait and got caught. Somehow, the gator left the pond via one of the pipes, so there was no need to watch the trap. But TV was very good about calling a trapper to remove the gator -- he was out there within the week of the initial call. This was within the past month.

[Best Mom]

Red,
I hope you are right. We definitely have gators around the Ashland pool.
Two different men at the pool told me they aren't pulling them out. :dontknow:
I will let you know if I keep seeing the gators!

[travelstiles]

We have a gator or two in the pond behind our home (Virginia Trace), one being at least 10 feet long. At first I was really scared about them, but we do have a retaining wall and fence, and the gators seem to just want to swim and occasionally sun themselves. Neither has left the shore of the pond.
However, when they visit, the birds and ducks won't wade into the waters - that's how we know they're around. I now enjoy seeing all of the wildlife, including the two gators, whom we've named RJ and Ali Gator. And our guests always look for them when they visit.
http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh229/travelstiles/misc/gatorpic-1.jpg?t=1215706125
Mr & Mrs Travel and Ali Gator

[samhass]

What's wrong with having gators??? We have many in my village and I love watching them.
They were here before we were and as long as they aren't attacking anyone we should leave them alone. If they are over a certain length, I think they are removed. I,for one ,love seeing them glide across the lake. This is Florida. They live here. The buffs are gone. Next the gators..then the snapping turtles, then how do we get rid of the snakes?
Maybe people that hate all these creatures should relocate to places with less wildlife. Florida is a wild state in terms of critters that may not be friendly. We have bears, gators, monster wild hogs, five poisonous species of snakes and some big cats, as well.
I think the wildlife is wonderful. Guess that's why there's chocolate and vanilla. If you like vanilla, why would you go to a place that only has chocolate??

[Best Mom]

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.

[Best Mom]

Sam,
I am country to the bone! I love all animals.
Mc

[Taltarzac]

We have a gator or two in the pond behind our home (Virginia Trace), one being at least 10 feet long. At first I was really scared about them, but we do have a retaining wall and fence, and the gators seem to just want to swim and occasionally sun themselves. Neither has left the shore of the pond.
However, when they visit, the birds and ducks won't wade into the waters - that's how we know they're around. I now enjoy seeing all of the wildlife, including the two gators, whom we've named RJ and Ali Gator. And our guests always look for them when they visit.
http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh229/travelstiles/misc/gatorpic-1.jpg?t=1215706125
Mr & Mrs Travel and Ali Gator


Boy, Mr. and Mrs. Travel being that close to Ali Gator we could have been calling you Mr. and Mrs. Ali Gator.

[Best Mom]

Travel.
That is a great picture! :o
Mc

[Boomer]

I just can't help it. I think I am hijacking again. Well, not exactly. But sort of. Maybe.

Anyway, this is for those of you who have little grandchildren. My grandchildren are teenagers now. (I am actually quite young. Yeah, that's it. I was a grandmothering prodigy.)

Anyway, I always taught my grandchildren songs when they were little. Included in my repertoire was the ever popular "Stewball was a racehorse, and I wish he were mine. He never drank water. He always drank wine." . . .

I digress. Back to my point.

Here is a song that I knew long before the Muppets did. And my darling grandchildren knew all the words. Still do I'm sure.

And while I know this song is all about a crocodile and not an alligator, it's close enough. And kids love the song. And so do I. So hit this link if you want to smile -- or not. And try not to think about what's happening to all those -- uh, -- oops! -- uh, frogs!

(And, btw, that snapping turtle that I was telling you all about yesterday that was on my Ohio patio -- well, Mr. Boomer Dundee came home and relocated it to a nearby creek where I hope he is living happily ever after. The snapping turtle, not Mr. Boomer Dundee.)

Anyway, if you have little grandchildren, you just have to hit this link. You'll be glad you did. And so will they.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVWuAyWWuAU

Boomer

[conn8757]

Boomer - I just watched and listened and went back in time about 55 years to remember that song. I had it on a record (remember them). Now I know I will not get that "never smile at a crocodile" song out of my head the rest of the day. Thanks for the memories.

[graciegirl]

We have a gator or two in the pond behind our home (Virginia Trace), one being at least 10 feet long. At first I was really scared about them, but we do have a retaining wall and fence, and the gators seem to just want to swim and occasionally sun themselves. Neither has left the shore of the pond.
However, when they visit, the birds and ducks won't wade into the waters - that's how we know they're around. I now enjoy seeing all of the wildlife, including the two gators, whom we've named RJ and Ali Gator. And our guests always look for them when they visit.
http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh229/travelstiles/misc/gatorpic-1.jpg?t=1215706125
Mr & Mrs Travel and Ali Gator



That is quite an.....arresting picture....I am a yankee and stupid as H...., but is that safe...I mean being so close???? :o

[graciegirl]

If I moved to Michigan and knew they had Opposum and Hawks there, I would not think that the developer of the neighborhood to which I moved was responsible for removing them. NOW I know that oppossum and Hawks are not the same as Alligators and Rats, but it does seem to be the same principal, or am I wrong?

[benj]

graciegil, I'm not a yankee and probably stupid as h... but that croc sure looks fake to me.

[Best Mom]

If I moved to Michigan and knew they had Opposum and Hawks there, I would not think that the developer of the neighborhood to which I moved was responsible for removing them. NOW I know that oppossum and Hawks are not the same as Alligators and Rats, but it does seem to be the same principal, or am I wrong?


Yes - you are missing the point. As people who have lived in Ashland can tell you -we have never seen rats on our pool deck before because the Villages had a full time exterminator. Yes- there are rats everyplace but when they move in with humans it becomes a health hazard. This is a service the Villages has had in the past, which means they felt it was a necessity then, so why would it change now? No other animal carries and spreads disease like rats, and they are an indication that waste is not being properly handled. As for alligators, they surely are a natural fixture of Florida. Housing developments are not. A predator like an alligator poses a more dangerous threat to humans than possums or hawks. This pond is frequented by model boat clubs, their observers, and pet owners. Few ponds are used by humans as much as this one, so The Villages has in the past cleared any alligators that have been present. Again, this is a change in policy, probably due to cost and owner cut-backs. ... :)

[graciegirl]

graciegil, I'm not a yankee and probably stupid as h... but that croc sure looks fake to me.


Whew.......................I am so glad to hear that it is fake. I admit. I used to be blonde, but I thought I had gotten over it.

[graciegirl]

Yes - you are missing the point. As people who have lived in Ashland can tell you -we have never seen rats on our pool deck before because the Villages had a full time exterminator. Yes- there are rats everyplace but when they move in with humans it becomes a health hazard. This is a service the Villages has had in the past, which means they felt it was a necessity then, so why would it change now? No other animal carries and spreads disease like rats, and they are an indication that waste is not being properly handled. As for alligators, they surely are a natural fixture of Florida. Housing developments are not. A predator like an alligator poses a more dangerous threat to humans than possums or hawks. This pond is frequented by model boat clubs, their observers, and pet owners. Few ponds are used by humans as much as this one, so The Villages has in the past cleared any alligators that have been present. Again, this is a change in policy, probably due to cost and owner cut-backs. ... :)


Well said Mac.

[Lil Dancer]

Yes - you are missing the point. As people who have lived in Ashland can tell you -we have never seen rats on our pool deck before because the Villages had a full time exterminator. Yes- there are rats everyplace but when they move in with humans it becomes a health hazard. This is a service the Villages has had in the past, which means they felt it was a necessity then, so why would it change now? No other animal carries and spreads disease like rats, and they are an indication that waste is not being properly handled. As for alligators, they surely are a natural fixture of Florida. Housing developments are not. A predator like an alligator poses a more dangerous threat to humans than possums or hawks. This pond is frequented by model boat clubs, their observers, and pet owners. Few ponds are used by humans as much as this one, so The Villages has in the past cleared any alligators that have been present. Again, this is a change in policy, probably due to cost and owner cut-backs. ... :)


Well said, mcelheny. Particularly during mating season, the gators can be quite dangerous. I'm an animal lover too, but I agree its best to re-locate the gators to areas where there will be less potential human interaction. As far as rats, it does not appear they are in the same category as hawks. This is what an Orlando exterminator says about Florida rats:
Florida Rat info: The most common nuisance rats are the Norway Rat, also known as the Brown Rat, and the Black Rat, also known as the Roof Rat. Down here in Florida, the Roof Rat dominates. Many Orlando residents refer to them as Fruit Rats or Citrus Rats. Rats are commonly associated with urban areas, but in Florida, they survive in the wild just fine. They will go wherever they can find food and shelter, and that often includes buildings. Although they may look large, they need only a tiny hole (the size of a quarter) to fit through. Roof rats will consume many different types of plant and animal foods such as insects, fruits, grains, pet food that has been left outdoors, and almost any food in your house. They also contaminate food with their urine and feces. Rats are well-known carriers of many different diseases, and it has been reported that rats bite more than fifteen thousand people per year including the very young, and old. Rats are primarily nocturnal. Roof rats tend to live most of their lives high off the ground, and they love to live in attics. Even though they often live for less than a year, they can breed in large quantities.

[travelstiles]

This reminds me of the Buffalo discussion.
Alligators, like buffalo, are not domesticated and adults need to use common sense and be cautious around them.
What I find surprising is that in The Villages Newcomer's Guide there is a picture of 2 young boys fishing with an adult, and the boys are ankle-deep in the pond :o - doesn't look safe to me, as I've seen how quickly RJ and Ali can move!

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh229/travelstiles/misc/neworleans.jpg

[Best Mom]

Travel and Lil Dancer,
Both your posts make a great deal of sense. :agree:

[renielarson]

I'm not being mean and I say this honestly...

Posting your concerns here won't do a darn thing. You have to become an activist and using Tony's acceptable word...

scat (scatology?) or get off the pot!

I know scatology isn't the correct usage but it's late and you get the drift....

Don't waste your time venting here...DO SOMETHING...don't take NO for an answer and try to right the wrong you feel is happening.

[Best Mom]

Brightspot,
I disagree. Many people have viewed this post and people have been called. I want others to know what is going on...

[Best Mom]

Brightspot,
393 have viewed this thread.

[renielarson]

People's awareness is not going to solve the issue Mc. You need to take the bull by the horns.

And...what does it matter how many have viewed this thread?

[renielarson]

As a teacher you should know that it doesn't matter how many other teachers agree with you...

It's how you can convince the administration and how you can get the job done.

[renielarson]

Complaining gets you nowhere...

Action does!

[Best Mom]

Brightspot,
1633 viewed the other rats post.!!! :)
What bull are you talking about.?? :dontknow:
POA has been notified.
The Villages have been called.
Bait has been set again around the pool. :)
I just want others to know what is happening.
This blog gets it out there. I also have talked about it at the Rainy Chicks group.
Girl...my life is good. :bigthumbsup:
This in not a make or break for me. I just want people to be aware.
I know about bulls, I don't try to grab no bull! :o

[renielarson]

Simmer down Mc

I'm only saying....fight for what you believe

Go beyond this forum....

Calling the Villages won't solve your problem....

You are a smart lady...blogs get it out there but that won't solve your problem...you know that!

Come on...stop this complaining on the forum...get moving

by the way....did I mention bull somewhere?

[Boomer]

Boomer - I just watched and listened and went back in time about 55 years to remember that song. I had it on a record (remember them). Now I know I will not get that "never smile at a crocodile" song out of my head the rest of the day. Thanks for the memories.


Hi conn8757,

I am glad you liked the song. I know what you mean to have a song stuck in your head. Have you ever heard the name for having that happen? Earworm.

And yes, I, too, had one of those record players. I guess that's what got a lot of us boomers started with our music. And now we have our iPods.

I am going to move this song over to the "Animal Songs" thread that someone started. I knew it did not really belong in here, but I could not resist the hijacking today. Or semi-hijacking or whatever it is. Well, actually, I thought it sort of belonged in here. And it is fun.

I use an exercise ball for a desk chair. So sometimes I bounce around when I am writing this stuff. And when I thought about the song and found it, I just had to play it a couple of times. It has a good beat and you can bounce to it.

Anyway, I hope you will come along to the "Animal Songs" thread and find some more memories there.

Seeya later, Alligator.

Boomer

[zcaveman]

MC - the numbers of viewers do not express an interest in the post - just curiosity. i have viewed this post several times and not replied,

Personally I think that all gators should be relocated to safer areas to protect them and us in TV. When ever someone calls about a nuisance gator it is trapped and killed. Only because some idiot decided that the gator was cute and should be fed or petted.

Gators are predators and will eat anything that comes near them and :edit: them off. Keep the children and pets away from the lakes/ponds. Golfers think that the $1.25 golf ball is priceless and will go down to the water and start sticking their club in the weeds and reeds. Besides the gators this :edit: off the unfriendly snakes.

As for the rats, maybe you should put up a sign to make sure that everyone puts their food and soda trash into the trash containers to reduce the food that the rats are there for.

As mentioned in several posts the rats can be found almost every place in TV. I see them at Walnut Grove, El Santiago, Hawkes Bay. I see them crossing the cart path on Buena Vista.

I understand your concern. I also agree that maybe the POA could be a responsible area to cover your concern - especially if they removed the full time exterminator.

[chuckinca]

Simmer down Mc

I'm only saying....fight for what you believe

Go beyond this forum....

Calling the Villages won't solve your problem....

You are a smart lady...blogs get it out there but that won't solve your problem...you know that!

Come on...stop this complaining on the forum...get moving

by the way....did I mention bull somewhere?




AND MAKE IT SNAPPY ! ! !

LMAO

[Best Mom]

Bright,
You don't know what you are talking about...Yes, you talk about taking the bull by the horns....what the hell are you talking about???
I will post and vent on here anytime I want! You do!
I am going to bed because your posts have been a waste of time.
Good Night!

[benj]

Mc and bright You guys are giving me a complex. CANT WE ALL JUST GET ALONG. I tell all of my clients "if you cant take a joke just call someone else". As far as I'm concerned everyones opinion is as good as anyone else's, jokes, complaining, happy talk or whatever.

[travelstiles]

Hey Boomer ~
Speaking of animal songs, have a listen to this clip - every time I look out our back window into the pond and see RJ or Ali, I think of this song. Another one you just can't get out of your head..Tony Joe White, Polk Salad Annie (the gator's got your grannie)! I hope they don't take my wildlife away!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=fRF24LY5pvw
(http://youtube.com/watch?v=fRF24LY5pvw)

[renielarson]

Mc

You need to calm down...relax

And Mc...don't get so upset when I (or anyone else) tries to give you advice.

[Best Mom]

Bridght,
You need to stop telling me not to post and what to do....plus I just read what you said to Barb.
Benj,
I totally agree....
Zcaveman,
You sound so sweet...I hope I meet you some day. And Thanks!!
As Travel said...you can't have people putting their hands in the water with their boats and people fishing in a lake with alligators. I love the gators and I just was explaining there seems to a change from the last 5 years. That't what people told me. I have taken action. I hope the rat bait will work. But it is not a life or death matter to me. Bright's only point is I should stop posting...Lord knows I should! ;D

[Boomer]

Chuck! Travel! I FOUND MY PEOPLE!!!! And just when I was wondering what in the heck I was doing in this thread. And I was getting ready to pack up my song and leave. Well, I just might stay here now. :duck:

You'll click on my song and bounce along with me, won't you? (You really might like using an exercise ball for a desk chair. You can bounce and write at the same time. It's fun.)

Hey, Travel, I bounced along with your song. I had forgotten all about that one.

And Chuck, "Make it snappy." :bow:

Boomer

[travelstiles]

Mc ~
Listen to the you-tube clip I posted earlier. It will make you laugh and you'll sleep better. A good laugh works every time!
Have a good evening ~
Travel

BTW, I found a website on aligators and they eat rats, so it looks like the problem may solve itself...

[renielarson]

Never said that Mc

I said posting here won't solve your problem

Feel free to post all you want...but...it won't get your problem solved.

And...what did I say to Barb that has anything to do with your rat problem and alligator concerns?

[Best Mom]

Good Night All :)
Life is good. :bigthumbsup:

[Boomer]

Travel,

I just listened to that song again. And this time, I quite simply put my head down on my desk and laughed until I could barely breathe. I love it. I am putting it on my iPod tomorrow. That guy is a cross between Elvis and Barry White. All this while I was still trying to recover from laughing at Chuck's, "Make it snappy." I am weak.

C'mon, the rest of you. Listen. Please.

Boomer Annie

[Barefoot]

BTW, I found a website on aligators and they eat rats, so it looks like the problem may solve itself...

Trav, brilliant solution. But if rats are a huge problem, we may end up with some really fat alligators. ;)

[benj]

I cant wait to meet all you totv'ers I was thinking of chrispers, buy now I'm thinking of chrispers for a mud wrestling contest to see who is the meanest.

[travelstiles]

We could meet at Stumpknockers up near Ocala - they serve alligator there - and it's not bad at all!

[luvflowers1585]

It's my understanding that all the retaining ponds are joined from one pond to another all through TV. ::) You would guess the gators can swim from one area to another.

(And the gator Senior Olympics are really something to watch! OK, there are no gator senior olympics here... that part's a joke, that's a joke!)

Has anyone contacted the CDD to find out what the current rulings are on gators in TV? I had heard that the rules over the retaining ponds are not necessarily governed by TV and TV need to follow the rules of the agency that governs the ponds? (Can I quote which agency it is...no, I can't, sorry!) Have you ever heard that? Please correct me if I'm wrong.

I wish that TV would put into writing what the rulings are re: the gators or that it could be published in the paper. I better check my homeowner's manual to make sure I didn't miss something about what they do about gators here.

Just my 2 cents' worth,

luvflowers1585

[Boomer]

I guess TV is a gatored community.

Boomer Annie

[chelsea24]

Honestly, all this posting about rats and alligators doesn't make The Villages look very good to any newcomers. This is an absolutely beautiful place and maybe I've just been lucky, but I've been here going on 9 months and have never seen a rat, alligator or snake. Whew!

MC as I said before why don't you physically put up big signs near that pool, take pictures, send them to the powers that be with the threat of sending them on to the news. Be proactive. I personally wouldn't put out bait myself to try and catch anything! Yeeks! I would embarrass the hell out of the people who are suppose to be taking care of this. But, really, this forum isn't going to get the job done.

As for the gators, again, I agree with zcaveman. If some idiot wants to stick his hand in a pond for a $1.25 golf ball, oh well. The gators are a part of Florida. It's just that simple. Be aware.

Yes, Mc, we all have a wonderful life. I've heard this story before. But talk is cheap and action costs. Take action girl!

[benj]

Boomer RATS I wish I thought of that one.

[travelstiles]

Tail gator (possibly making RATatouille)

http://www.smocking.com/ProductImages/crosseyedcricket/135%20TailGator.JPG

[Muncle]

To all the folks who are concerned about the rats and alligators that are evidently overrunning TV:

What did the District Manager or any of her employees say in response to your questions about the infestation?

What was the response when you asked about the purported elimination of the purported Villages Exterminator position?

What are the statistics on alligator attacks in TV?

As I'm sure many of you have pursued these issues rather than just carp about them here, would you please post any written responses to your queries or other information you've gathered.

I' sure others would appreciate knowing whether these issues are, in fact, real or just something to enliven a dull midweek.

[Boomer]

I sure hope everybody in this thread smiles while they sleep tonight.

I know I will. Even though I will probably keep hearing, "Gators got your granny."

Seeya later. . .you know the rest.

Goodnight.

Boomer Annie

[samhass]

"Chomp. Chomp, chomp, chomp!!! All the people thought she was insane, but her mamma was a working on a chain gang..." Boomer, that's one of my all time favorites!!
I also love living in my gatored community and hope to tailgate with travel!!
Muncle, statistics might ruin this thread. We still haven't gotten to the black bears and hideously large wild hogs. I've seen several on the square. 1rnfl 1rnfl 1rnfl

[graciegirl]

Hold on Mildred. This ride ain't over yet. ;D

[Best Mom]

As people who have lived in Ashland can tell you -we have never seen rats on our pool deck before because the Villages had a full time exterminator. Yes- there are rats everyplace but when they move in with humans it becomes a health hazard. This is a service the Villages has had in the past, which means they felt it was a necessity then, so why would it change now? No other animal carries and spreads disease like rats, and they are an indication that waste is not being properly handled. As for alligators, they surely are a natural fixture of Florida. Housing developments are not. A predator like an alligator poses a more dangerous threat to humans than possums or hawks. This pond is frequented by model boat clubs, their observers, and pet owners. Few ponds are used by humans as much as this one, so The Villages has in the past cleared any alligators that have been present. Again, this is a change in policy, probably due to cost and owner cut-backs. ... :)

This says it all. Life is very good. :) I am going to the pool. :)
Life is good. :) I am going to the pool! :) Got it?
I hope everybody has a good day.

[chelsea24]

This says it all. Life is very good. :) I am going to the pool. :)
Life is good. :) I am going to the pool! :) Got it?
I hope everybody has a good day.


Tra-la, tra-la. Hope you're bringing a sign with you Mc. Just out of curiosity, why do you keep frequenting that pool? I'd be at one of the 30 other ones. :dontknow:

[Best Mom]

Hi Chels,

Closest to my house and I have a group of friends there. We all live around this pool and we have formed friendships through the years. We are pretty close. :)
As you know-I am a country girl so Willy won't keep me from my friends. Plus I have my tall handsome husband to protect me!!! ;D
Now there are tons of little black baited traps put out all around the pool. I don't put them out....but Willy might be gone to heaven all ready! :)
I am enjoying the never ending story.

[Best Mom]

Update -- The alligator problem has been taken care of ;D Alligator control came to the Ashland pond and removed the alligator (all 8 feet of him). When asked why, they said that he was interfering with the use of the pond by the sailboat club. (Also he may have been a democrat, and did not belong here :dontknow:)

Thanks to whoever helped take care of this problem.

Mc (Mildred) signing out.

[samhass]

mc..that's funny about the gator being a democrat! :) Where does he belong?
Hey I noticed all your posts are deleted except for 33 of them. What's up with that? You had some great anti-war posts that I felt were right on target.

[travelstiles]

I just don't want the powers that be coming to take away my 2 gators. I would miss RJ and Ali terribly. :(

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh229/travelstiles/Aligatorwake.jpg

[samhass]

travel, I so agree. I love watching the gators and will be greatly saddened to see them hauled away. I figure someone from TV reads these threads. This reminds me of the buffalo being taken away. Please leave the gators alone unless they become aggressive.

[Best Mom]

Travel and Sam,
Don't worry about your gators. They said it was just because of the miniature sailboat club that meets twice a week using this pond. :bigthumbsup:

Sam,
Computer problem...couldn't log on. Administrators worked very hard to get me back on...and had to wipe me out and start over.

[chuckster]

[quote=mcelheny ]
Travel and Sam,
Don't worry about your gators. They said it was just because of the miniature sailboat club that meets twice a week using this pond. :bigthumbsup:



I think that means (take away) another gator killed as happened several years ago nearby. Maybe the sailors can find another pond and we can keep our "native gators" that have yet to bother anyone.

[chelsea24]

I'm with you on this one Chuckster. I don't like when society in general clears a path for itself no matter who or what it hurts. I abhor hunting in any form. Let the dweebs go play with their sailboats elsewhere. Leave the gators alone! Just my opinion.

[tony]

Are you saying only dweebs have sailboats?
???

[travelstiles]

:agree: :agree: :agree: :agree: :agree:
oh, and did I say :agree: ?

We were driving by the lake near Spanish Springs today and once again I saw an adult with a young child fishing, and they were both up to their shins in the lake! :o And if an alligator harmed them in any way, we'd see the gators go the way of the buffalo.

With all the complaints so many people have about the younger generation, what are these "adults" thinking to come to an area where it's a natural habitat for alligators and think we can build, fish, boat and sail in their environment and not expect them to defend their turf!

http://re3.yt-thm-a01.yimg.com/image/25/m2/2414007744

[Barefoot]

With all the complaints so many people have about the younger generation, what are these "adults" thinking to come to an area where it's is a natural habitat for alligators and think we can build, fish, boat and sail in their environment and not expect them to defend their turf!


Trav, well said! :agree:

I'm from Canada, and even I know that where there is water in Florida, there can be gators. For heavens sake folks, keep young children and dogs away from water!!

[Best Mom]

It is difficult to be nature lovers when buying into a huge
housing development that clear-cuts trees and bulldozes hundreds of acres of land, disturbing the natural ecology of an area. I feel sorry that the alligator had to be killed, but the developer makes that decision vs. trapping. You know this must be happening on the golf courses as well.

There are developments that try to take the opposite tack by limiting the number of houses, keeping the trees and not disturbing the wildlife. They have park-like settings, and there is much more natural beauty there.

These ponds are also a haven for a wide variety of beautiful birds, which end up being food for the alligators. When one is in a pond the birds disappear or have become lunch.

[chelsea24]

Hi Tony, no not only dweebs have sailboats, dorks do to!. LOLOLOL :joke: Kidding, love to watch sailboats but not where there are gators. Then it's no contest. Gators stay, "man" finds another pond or lake.

Mc, I think the developer has done a splendid job with it's wildlife preserves. You seem to be down on the developer quite a bit. Coming from the midwest, I'm in awe at all the natural beauty they have managed to preserve. You can't really compare natural predators with the destruction "man" can cause.

Man is the only species that kills for pleasure.

***A little off topic, but please all rent The Planet Earth (4 discs) It's absolutely stunning.

[samhass]

:agree: :agree: :agree: :agree: :agree:
You must be kidding!!!!!!!!!Are those people brain freaking dead?? You have to assume that all bodies of water in central Florida contain alligators. Lose your ball around the 6th hole on Riley? Better watch for George, a real big boy that hangs back there. Chomp. :yikes: :yikes:




oh, and did I say :agree: ?

We were driving by the lake near Spanish Springs today and once again I saw an adult with a young child fishing, and they were both up to their shins in the lake! :o And if an alligator harmed them in any way, we'd see the gators go the way of the buffalo.

With all the complaints so many people have about the younger generation, what are these "adults" thinking to come to an area where it's a natural habitat for alligators and think we can build, fish, boat and sail in their environment and not expect them to defend their turf!

http://re3.yt-thm-a01.yimg.com/image/25/m2/2414007744

[ConeyIsBabe]

mcelheny........ THANK YOU for the heads up regarding rats and alligators in TV. Sure, I'm only a wannabee but I read the positive remarks about life in America's Friendliest Hometown and I appreciate even more those issues regarding problems in TV.

All those years of living in Miami-Dade County I've heard numerous stories of alligators in canals grabbing small children and pets. The threat is real and I appreciate your posting this thread to inform others :bigthumbsup:

[renielarson]

I don't think this is an issue exclusive to The Villages. I tend to believe it's an issue throughout Florida and I would assume many other southern states.

Am I correct with my assumption?

[samhass]

Bright, you are correct. I know many people live here and have not seen gators. Living on the water has allowed me to see many gators.
I introduced Bright to Markets of Marion today. As we came back home, I pointed out a big gator just down from my house. He was catching rays on the bank. He is not to be confused with Big George. BG comes up behind a home two doors down from me.
I really shudder to think of anyone standing knee deep in a local lake with a child. I know gators are supposed to fear us, but why take the chance?

[Boomer]

I have been running around on this site for awhile and if you have read some of the stuff I write, you may know that I am madly, wildly, secretly in love with Carl Hiaasen. If you read my man Carl, you know that he is a Florida native and quite the defender of Florida's creatures and Florida's natural beauty. If Hiaasen ever hears about TOTV, he will find the plot of a new bestseller right here. If only he knew that if he happens to be suffering with a bout of writer's block, he need only come here, to TOTV. Or to TV, the gatored community. And Carl H. is old enough to live in TV.

I found another song about alligators. And I wanted to give it to our writers over on the "Neverending Story" in case they wanted to make it a musical or something. Then my youtube feed kept jumping around so I just ditched the post. But I tried it again, and it seems fine.

You have probably never heard this one before. But it has a good beat and you could dance to it. I do have one concern about it though. I hope no one from the posse that is out looking for those gators hears it. I believe that the lyrics make the gators sound a little bad. Perhaps they are a little anti-gator. But the song is catchy and fun to listen to and it rocks a little.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKWrGjiAJyI

Oh, and you might want to crank it up.

Boomer

[Best Mom]

It is difficult to be nature lovers when buying into a huge
housing development that clear-cuts trees and bulldozes hundreds of acres of land, disturbing the natural ecology of an area. I feel sorry that the alligator had to be killed, but the developer makes that decision vs. trapping. You know this must be happening on the golf courses as well.

There are developments that try to take the opposite tack by limiting the number of houses, keeping the trees and not disturbing the wildlife. They have park-like settings, and there is much more natural beauty there.

These ponds are also a haven for a wide variety of beautiful birds, which end up being food for the alligators. When one is in a pond the birds disappear or have become lunch.
That says it all.

Cutting down trees and scraping top soil has no regard for nature. That kills and makes all animals homeless. If you care about all animals, you treat the earth with respect. I cried for two days when they cut down the 2 trees left across the road and all those little creatures lost their homes and shade. Natural trees and natural lakes should be respected.

The developer advertises fishing and gives out free fishing poles at Spanish Springs.!!!! He uses the sailing club in his DVD. !!!!

The sailors and I were not happy with the killing. We thought the gator would of been trapped and moved.
Enough said :)

[samhass]

Yeah mc, I don't think they move the larger animals. I think they are euthanized. I really think they (gators) are amazing. Of course one hasn't come out of the water and tried to get me yet. Might change my mind then. ;D

[jeckyl]

mc....

maybe if you had a suggested action for your vent it would be a little more effective. We know you have a problem with this (who wouldn't), but you have not told us what you would like us to do. Call Who? What number? Say what? I wonder if once person received as many calls as views to this thread if they would feel compelled to get off their chair and do something. Maybe if you vented less and directed more, you could use this thread to solve a problem. Just a thought......

I agree with that other post, it is about taking action.....

[Best Mom]

jeckyl,
Welcome!
The original issues at the Ashland pool have all been solved.

This thread had been turned into how wrong it is to shoot one gator by people who bought into a hugh(I think too big and still growing)development that clear cut hundreds of acres and cuts down all the trees. How can you be upset about one gator when all of nature has been ruined to build hundreds of homes.?

So -my problems were solved.
The only problem I have now is to get this thread to stop!!

[Best Mom]

Yeah mc, I don't think they move the larger animals. I think they are euthanized. I really think they (gators) are amazing. Of course one hasn't come out of the water and tried to get me yet. Might change my mind then. ;D

Sam,
You are right. He was super big.

[graciegirl]

This is the thread I referred to in discussion in the marginalization thread. FYI

[Taltarzac]

After reading this, I felt bad.

Certainly looks like the right thread, graciegirl.

You just have to expect some rough handling when you post on message boards especially ones covering communities in which many of the posters have a lot of time and money invested.

[Russ_Boston]

Ahhh, the good ole days!

[windylou]

BEST MOM was concerned about rats and aligators around the Ashland
pool and mailboxes. All the responses seemed to focus on aligators ...
Aligators are a part of Florida, for sure . And maybe rats are too.
However, I would consider rats a danger
as they may carry rabies. I would think that The Villages
would do something to get rid of them .

[jblum8156]

Utube says that video is no longer available because the account has been "terminated." Sounds ominous to me.

[samhass]

This thread is now over two years old. In retrospect, I think Best Mom was absolutely correct. After removing my slightly rose tinted glasses, I have seen the rats around also. :doh: As for the gators, I still like to see them but am amazed at how many we have here in TV.

[Tom Hannon]

Rats are something usually associated in getto areas. In my 62 years living on LI, I can't ever remember seeing a rat in any place other than pet stores and at an old industrial building I used to work in. Rats scare me. I can't believe they are populated in the Villages. Ewwww.

[English Ivy]

I can't believe they are populated in the Villages. Ewwww.

I've seen them on the golf course and I've seen them on the cart paths (multi-modal). They are around.

[Barefoot]

We have a lot of wildlife preserves in TV. Rats, snakes, rabbits, feral cats, eagles, coyotes, and many large gators have been spotted .. and even the occasional black panther.

Maybe we should pave them over. :jester:

[The Great Fumar]

Been here eight years and have yet to see a rat and maybe a half dozen alligators and they were very small (4-5 ft,)

methinks folks are seeing things...........
However I must be honest, I don't think you could see a gator because of all the dogs here.......
I for one wouild not be opposed to a GATOR DOO RUN..........

fumar

[Mikitv]

I think it was posted before that there are a type of plam rats that live up in the palm trees.

[tpop1]

Been here eight years and have yet to see a rat and maybe a half dozen alligators and they were very small (4-5 ft,)

methinks folks are seeing things...........
However I must be honest, I don't think you could see a gator because of all the dogs here.......
I for one wouild not be opposed to a GATOR DOO RUN..........

fumar

Bigger than 4-5 ft in pond on Buena Vista on the Palmer Course.

Just because everyone hasn't seen it doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

I've never seen a rat in TV either, but believe the multiple posters that they may exist.

http://i968.photobucket.com/albums/ae163/tpop1nunu/2010-08-27TVGator_0002.jpg

[The Great Fumar]

OK, OK, SO I FORGOT ABOUT MUSKRATS !!!!!

fumar

[K9-Lovers]

I've only lived here 5 months, and I've seen some rats. Rats live everywhere, just like snakes and bugs, and people! While swimming in the Chula Vista pool the other night we saw the cutest oppossum! Face it folks, we and the animals are all in this world together.

Some folks don't think it is important to clean up after their pooches. But rats are attracted to and eat dog feces. So, the next time you walk your dog TAKE A PLASTIC BAG WITH YOU!

"...Unsavory as it may be, according to the experts, about forty percent of dog feces are undigested food products. When dog owners don´t pick up after their pets, they are literally leaving a rodent buffet."
-- Source: Chicago Streets & Sanitation Quarterly News

Back in 2008 when this thread originated, I'll bet they could have eliminated the rats if everyone had been picking up after their pets!

[graciegirl]

When you live here for awhile, you learn more. I still haven't seen a rat or a mouse and no one of my neighbors have mentioned them so I am guessing that because this area is two years old they haven't found their way here yet after the place was cleared right down to the sand before building.

It was a while after moving in that we saw our first gekko, but the ants were the first welcoming committee. Snakes have been reported and we have three trillion dragonflys right now.

After re-reading the old posts on this thread I think that K9-lovers have hit the reason for the attraction for the rats. Yucky.

My relatives had a place for many years in Venice, Florida and they never mentioned rats and we didn't see any during our frequent visits. So as tpop pointed out on another thread, we come to our life conclusions by our own experiences.

I would guess that the developers are in charge here of ridding this place of critters that are a threat to health and safety and I don't know how that works. I don't know how long or how hard it was to get the exterminators to take care of the rats, but apparently they did...until they come back again.

I have had good experiences for asking for things from them and getting them. Here is my recent experience. When we returned the plantings near the wall in back of our house that separates us from the Odell center was just filled with big ugly weeds among the ornamental grasses. I knew that I had seen people weeding there before but bein' a farmin' Ohioan, I took them on and was soon covered with little itchy picky seeds. Sweetie joined me but we both stopped when we saw that we would have to wade into the planting beds. We couldn't see our feet so we figured we couldn't see snakes either. So I walked over and to Odell and told the manager about the problem.

She apologized, said that some team of inspectors from The Villages had told her the same thing and she said that whoever was supposed to do it would do it or would be replaced. In two hours two fellows were out there getting themselves all hot and sticky and seedy pulling those weeds.

However, I don't know since we are on the newer side that help is faster to come. I certainly do not put weeds on the level of rats.


Correction added two hours after original post. Girls in neighborhood just had driveway chat. Massey was there this morning at neighbors house for mice. Mice officially in Hadley.

[duffysmom]

I live south of 466 and have seen dead rats on several occasions while driving my cart. At one time I lived in south Fla and witnessed rats as well as bob cats, snakes, alligators and frogs that were deadly to dogs. When I lived up north we had a serious problem with racoons and coyotes. As a matter of fact my dog was stalked by a coyote as we walked on our lawn. Personally I'm more concerned with red ants and wasps both of which have attacked me in my yard here in TV. When I moved to Miami I was attacked by a purse snatcher while at a Mercerdes dealership. He jumped out of a tree on top of me and ran off with my purse. boom: Such is life. I do what I can to take precautions and since living in TV, my quality of life has never been better. The closest I've come to danger in TV is when small children driving golf carts swerved into my lane. I love being close to nature and feel blessed. I do admire the Morse family but we're also active members of the POA. My motto is better safe than sorry.

[Barefoot]

When I moved to Miami I was attacked by a purse snatcher while at a Mercerdes dealership. He jumped out of a tree on top of me and ran off with my purse. boom: Such is life.

I admire your attitude. :clap2: And you make a good point. There are dangers and inconveniences everywhere. Of course there are snakes and rodents and wasps in The Villages. Such is life.

The Villages is as close to perfection as it gets. :thumbup:

[pooh]

First and only rat I've seen was at the Arnold Palmer Pro Shop....it just walked by on the sidewalk that goes in the front door. It was mid afternoon. Frankly, I was surprised and I don't know why....we had rats, specifically roof rats in CA and they were really a pain in the butt. Luckily they never made it into our attic, but goodness, they tried.

One can expect rats, mice and all other sorts of wildlife creatures almost ANYWHERE they live these days.....we're encroaching on their territory. It's the responsibility of individual homeowners to make their property less attractive to rodents. Sometimes it works, other times it doesn't and that's when steps must be taken....they do carry diseases...to make sure illnesses aren't spread from rodent to human.

Damnation, that rat was bold though.... :D

[Larry Wilson]

Barefoot, Gracie, Russ, Duffy, Pooh etc.
This post was not about animals you find in wildlife preserves or on private yards or in nature. If you read this post it was about a major infestation at the Ashland pool and mailboxes in 2008. Gracie, Ashland is south of 466. The infestation was many rats. Yes, it was because there is water and dog feces there but the main reason is because the Developer had decided to eliminate a full time exterminator. This became so bad that a professional exterminator was called in. A professional exterminator can use much stronger poisons than what they were trying to use. The pool and mailboxes were cleaned up and new traps are set every month.
Pooh, for every rat you see, there are about 10 unseen. Once you start seeing them in public places there is a problem. My only reason to comment is these recent posts didn't seem to understand the difference between animals in nature which are natural and an infestation in a public area which could have become a major health problem. Rats carry many diseases. Hope I helped clear up the confusion.

[Russ_Boston]

As you mentioned this was two years ago.

Is everything under control now?

Thanks,
Russ

[Boomer]

First and only rat I've seen was at the Arnold Palmer Pro Shop....it just walked by on the sidewalk that goes in the front door. It was mid afternoon. Frankly, I was surprised and I don't know why....we had rats, specifically roof rats in CA and they were really a pain in the butt. Luckily they never made it into our attic, but goodness, they tried.

One can expect rats, mice and all other sorts of wildlife creatures almost ANYWHERE they live these days.....we're encroaching on their territory. It's the responsibility of individual homeowners to make their property less attractive to rodents. Sometimes it works, other times it doesn't and that's when steps must be taken....they do carry diseases...to make sure illnesses aren't spread from rodent to human.

Damnation, that rat was bold though.... :D



Well, yeah, but did he slow the pace of play? :22yikes:

Boomer

[graciegirl]

Well, yeah, but did he slow the pace of play? :22yikes:

Boomer

RATS BOOMER!!!!!!

Buy ya books and buy ya books......

If he had slowed the pace of pay he would have been eliminated immediately!
This is a golf community!!:a20:

I hope I did not marginalize your post.

[jtdraig]

I guess TV is a gatored community.

Boomer Annie

I just cracked up..thanks for making my day!!:a040:

[Pturner]

I hope I did not marginalize your post.

roflmao

[graciegirl]

Barefoot, Gracie, Russ, Duffy, Pooh etc.
This post was not about animals you find in wildlife preserves or on private yards or in nature. If you read this post it was about a major infestation at the Ashland pool and mailboxes in 2008. Gracie, Ashland is south of 466. The infestation was many rats. Yes, it was because there is water and dog feces there but the main reason is because the Developer had decided to eliminate a full time exterminator. This became so bad that a professional exterminator was called in. A professional exterminator can use much stronger poisons than what they were trying to use. The pool and mailboxes were cleaned up and new traps are set every month.
Pooh, for every rat you see, there are about 10 unseen. Once you start seeing them in public places there is a problem. My only reason to comment is these recent posts didn't seem to understand the difference between animals in nature which are natural and an infestation in a public area which could have become a major health problem. Rats carry many diseases. Hope I helped clear up the confusion.

Welcome to the forum. Hope you enjoy the discussions here.

[Indydealmaker]

Larry touched on another problem that occurs all too often and is much easier to prevent: dog feces in the public areas. I have not observed many dogs running free, so that doggie doo must be coming from dogs being walked by their owners. As distasteful as it may seem, let's all make an extra effort to police up after our mongrels. Less food means less rats and one problem partially solved.

As far as our colorul gators go, Northerners new to Florida shouldn't be overly concerned about the gators eating your pets. I would imagine the incidences of gators gobbling up pets on leashes are as rare as UFO sightings.

[chuckinca]

First and only rat I've seen was at the Arnold Palmer Pro Shop....it just walked by on the sidewalk that goes in the front door. It was mid afternoon. Frankly, I was surprised and I don't know why....we had rats, specifically roof rats in CA and they were really a pain in the butt. Luckily they never made it into our attic, but goodness, they tried.



Never heard of a Roof Rat - must of a SoCal critter.


.

[graciegirl]

I understand these rodents are the same and come from the same phylum, subphylum that the ghetto rats do.........or not? Aren't they called citrus rats? Doesn't that make them a little less...........awful?

Can some scientist show us a picture of both? Please see that the citrus rat has a Mickey costume on.

[Barefoot]

I know this thread is about rats and gators. I'm just hijacking for a second. The last two mornings I found many large worms in our birdcage. I call them snake-worms because they are very large and if you touch them, they wriggle and throw themselves about like snakes.

I'm wondering if other peeps get these visitors when it rains. I am not planning to call our Pest Company. I think the large worms are normal for Florida. But I'm not sure.

[jblum8156]

Darn. Your link has been terminated.

[graciegirl]

Darn. Your link has been terminated.

Link? Mine? Bares?

[Patlyn]

:(Lots of rats running around on the golf cart paths and golf courses...what's going on????...

[graciegirl]

:(Lots of rats running around on the golf cart paths and golf courses...what's going on????...

Welcome Patlyn.

Are you someone who used to be someone else or are you someone who plays in front of rats? Do they hit into you?

Patlyn. I apologize, someone on this forum who I just absolutely love and respect has pointed out that I have been rude to you in asking if you had changed names. I honestly, did NOT think of it as being rude, until she said so. I think that a lot of people come on with new names from time to time, and I see no harm in it. I was just wondering if you had a new name, or if you were someone who used to post a long time ago and had some sad or angry interchange. I will not ask anyone new again the same question. I would not have done it at all, if I thought it was rude. Tony called me for it some time ago, and frankly I was confused and discouraged as to why he did. But now since someone I know well, and respect completely has pointed out I should not question new posters, I will not do it again. EVER.

[Russ_Boston]

:(Lots of rats running around on the golf cart paths and golf courses...what's going on????...

OMG - I'm not coming back - I hate rats.

Someone call my realtor please:)

[chuckster]

:(Lots of rats running around on the golf cart paths and golf courses...what's going on????...

The original post I'm sure you noticed regarding rats was in 2008. Personally haven't seen any.......

[mulligan]

Either it's mating season or the current date crop on the palms is ripe.

[senior citizen]

Either it's mating season or the current date crop on the palms is ripe.


Does the developer or county do anything about the rats?
Or is it totally left up to the home owner to hire a rodent specialist?

A few years back, my innocent inquiry re the same exact problem was met with not so happy campers at this forum.

I had only asked the question after our experience in Venice Florida. They were there, in all the condo walls, in the sewers, in the waterways, in the toilets, running around the airconditioning units, in the PALM TREES..........in the attics, etc., chewing through the wires in first floor of two story condo units. It appeared they were running rampant. Venice was a beautiful "Main Street U.S.A." designated hometown..........originally, it was a planned community with beautiful boulevard leading to the Gulf of Mexico beach and the Esplanade. A lovely town. But those rats were visible. Even return tourists would tell us how the rats would go from palm tree to palm tree.
None of this had ever entered our minds.

The exterminators told us, the realtors admitted it, the citizens of the town admitted it. Just wish we had done our research before totally revamping a condo. It was in the newspaper.

Whether or not you call them citrus rats, fruit rats, palm tree rats or voles, they look like rats and creeped me out.

It seems a new wave of people are not afraid to speak out and tell the truth about these rats, as I've just read all the earlier posts about them by the pools, the mailboxes, the golf cart paths, the golf courses.

Awhile back I was made to look foolish....just for asking a serious innocent question.............I have since been told by realtors all over that YES THERE ARE RATS IN FLORIDA........but they try hard to keep them out of the house.
Ditto for Mount Dora.....as I was told.
.
I'd rather have an honest answer than beat around the bush. All places have something or other. Better to be truthful and upfront about it.
One of the realtors at Top of The World said that the rats have been here long before we have.......

p.s. The reason I had asked on this forum awhile back is that we were told that the rats ARE ON ALL THE BARRIER ISLANDS from the Carolinas down to Florida and around to Texas......we were told they were especially bad on Longboat Key and Siesta Key which are down by Sarasota. You can find this information at any Florida university site.

Thus, now that we were considering THE VILLAGES for retirement, I was simply doing my homework. Exterminators also told us about huge snakes in toilets in single family homes in the Venice area. I guess it's just something one has to "live with" if they want to live in a warmer climate. I'd hate to be an exterminator. As the one person said, it's one thing to think of them as "citrus" rats...........but rats do carry disease. I think that the developers should at least eliminate them from the golf courses and the pool areas..........before they get into the homes or attics............or multipy.

[red tail]

they came in with the cockroaches. the chamber of commerce changed the name to palmetto bugs. but a cockroach is a cockroach by whatever name you give it. much like the fruit rat or rattus rattus. its all mother nature florida style. beats snow and ice !!!

[senior citizen]

they came in with the cockroaches. the chamber of commerce changed the name to palmetto bugs. but a cockroach is a cockroach by whatever name you give it. much like the fruit rat or rattus rattus. its all mother nature florida style. beats snow and ice !!!

Are palmetto bugs also called love bugs???

Back in 1973 we lived on the east coast of Florida for one year; the house was on a canal a block in from the intracoastal waterway and the beach.

Never ever thought of a rat. Never crossed our mind, even with the dock and the canal. Never saw one. But we did see, only when we shut the lights out late at night to watch t.v.........the "palmetto bugs" run across the carpeting.........we had sold our home up north and were renting this one for a year........the landlady, a retired Air Force General's widow, did pay to have an indoor exterminator and an outdoor exterminator come to treat the place.

I think it was monthly. He would tell me not to let my 2 year old son nor my 5 year old daughter out on the grass for a few days....due to the chemicals. He never mentined rodents of any kind (but the Venice exterimators did, over and over again).

While on a hike our little boy , holding my husband's hand, did trip and fall into a red ants nest and got bit up on his legs. They were FAST. (Years later, my elderly mom got bit by red ants in Venice).

Another time, we had taken the children very early in the morning to have a picnic by a nearby lake.......we held their hands and waded into the lake, but not too far.......had our picnic and returned home before 10 a.m. as it was HOT. A short while later we read how a young teenaged girl had been killed by an alligator while swimming in that same lake. HOW NAIVE WE WERE in our twenties. This is why I check everything out now.

We went to Disney World for years, every single school vacation in April and I never once thought about rats or alligators........a realtor at Top of the World told me that he had a friend who "worked the perimeter" of Disney World to keep the gators far away from the hotel areas and the park.

They are also out there !!!!!!! Years later, we visited D.W. in September and all the pools were closed due to encephalitis.........and the LOVE BUGS were out in full force..........so yes, although FLORIDA is better than ICE AND SNOW.........one does have to consider everything they are willing to live with.

Later, after the kids were in high school, we'd vacation on Sanibel Island which was known for their Ding Darling nature preserve...........there were alligators all over , even on the beach. They got around.
We never saw or heard of any rodents on Sanibel and it never crossed our minds at all,if truth be told.
The condos were all new construction. We also stayed in a single family home that had a long dirt road to the Gulf of Mexico Beach..........the owner of the home just "smiled" when we asked him about alligators. After subscribing to their newspaper, we found out that sure enough the alligators roamed freely. Our daughter would tell us to be careful as alligators can "sprint" and were pretty fast.

[Bogie Shooter]

Are palmetto bugs also called love bugs???

Back in 1973 we lived on the east coast of Florida for one year; the house was on a canal a block in from the intracoastal waterway and the beach.

Never ever thought of a rat. Never crossed our mind, even with the dock and the canal. Never saw one. But we did see, only when we shut the lights out late at night to watch t.v.........the "palmetto bugs" run across the carpeting.........we had sold our home up north and were renting this one for a year........the landlady, a retired Air Force General's widow, did pay to have an indoor exterminator and an outdoor exterminator come to treat the place.

I think it was monthly. He would tell me not to let my 2 year old son nor my 5 year old daughter out on the grass for a few days....due to the chemicals. He never mentined rodents of any kind (but the Venice exterimators did, over and over again).

While on a hike our little boy , holding my husband's hand, did trip and fall into a red ants nest and got bit up on his legs. They were FAST. (Years later, my elderly mom got bit by red ants in Venice).

Another time, we had taken the children very early in the morning to have a picnic by a nearby lake.......we held their hands and waded into the lake, but not too far.......had our picnic and returned home before 10 a.m. as it was HOT. A short while later we read how a young teenaged girl had been killed by an alligator while swimming in that same lake. HOW NAIVE WE WERE in our twenties. This is why I check everything out now.

We went to Disney World for years, every single school vacation in April and I never once thought about rats or alligators........a realtor at Top of the World told me that he had a friend who "worked the perimeter" of Disney World to keep the gators far away from the hotel areas and the park.

They are also out there !!!!!!! Years later, we visited D.W. in September and all the pools were closed due to encephalitis.........and the LOVE BUGS were out in full force..........so yes, although FLORIDA is better than ICE AND SNOW.........one does have to consider everything they are willing to live with.

I think with your hang ups, you maybe should stay where you are.....that is eden, right?

[senior citizen]

I think with your hang ups, you maybe should stay where you are.....that is eden, right?

They aren't hangups. We've come to terms with it in our minds.
Not a problem.

p.s. I'm not the one who said they were running around the pools and mailboxes and on the golf courses and golf cart paths....and tunnels.

[Bogie Shooter]

They aren't hangups. We've come to terms with it in our minds.
Not a problem.

p.s. I'm not the one who said they were running around the pools and mailboxes and on the golf courses and golf cart paths....and tunnels.

.

[graciegirl]

I saw something that looked like a rat or a very large mouse in the pine straw under a palm tree in the golf cart parking area at Truman Golf course.

That is the only time that I personally have seen a rat. I have smelled a rat on this forum from time to time, but I was told it was something else.

[KathieI]

I've seen 2 rats this week. Last one was Sunday, in Colony Plaza, he ran across the parking lot into a bush. The second was earlier this week, behind a restaurant in Spanish Springs. I thought I was seeing things, until I read this thread and saw the 2nd one. They look shorter and rounder than the ones I remember from SoCal that lived in the palm trees. I wondered the same thing, is it mating season and/or did the developer stop using an exterminator to control these critters.

I'm not panicked about it, I have 2 schnauzers and they are ratters, however, they haven't caught one mouse in my house yet, and I've had a few.... Spoiled brats they are!!

[senior citizen]

I've seen 2 rats this week. Last one was Sunday, in Colony Plaza, he ran across the parking lot into a bush. The second was earlier this week, behind a restaurant in Spanish Springs. I thought I was seeing things, until I read this thread and saw the 2nd one. They look shorter and rounder than the ones I remember from SoCal that lived in the palm trees. I wondered the same thing, is it mating season and/or did the developer stop using an exterminator to control these critters.

I'm not panicked about it, I have 2 schnauzers and they are ratters, however, they haven't caught one mouse in my house yet, and I've had a few.... Spoiled brats they are!!



My husband said the body of a roof rat or citrus rat is approx. 6 inches and with the tail it was 9 or 10 inches, which is much smaller than a Norway rat such as found in Boston, New York City, all cities.....in sewers, farming areas, across the country...........typical ship rats. We saw one on the road in Saint Augustine that the total length, body and tail , was a good 18 inches or larger, maybe even 24, but it was BIG.

The ones in Venice were dark brown or blackish. Not grey.

Now in Vermont we have lots of field mice that seek to come into warm homes in the autumn months........they are about 2 to 4 inches....they come in various colors, tan and grey, dark brown and light brown. You'd never confuse them with a rat. People set traps in their garages to discourage their entry into the house. My husband said he would set a trap in TV in the garage. Another poster, earlier, said NOT to grill in the lanai as they can tear through the screen when they smell the food. Her husband set a trap to catch the critter.

p.s. My husband just suggested that if the Homeowners Association raised everyone in TV by $5 a month, they'd have plenty of money to hire a crew of ten, buy all the necessary poisons to handle this rodent issue and keep everyone happy..........We sold our Venice beachfront condo in 1995, however, recently have noticed that all condos now come with "pest control" as part of the Homeowners fees, etc.
It wasn't part of the deal back then. He still recalls the fisherman pulling out rats from the the waterway down by the Venice Jetties.......they would cast with a lure and catch rats for "sport" every night. There were vacation homes on this waterway.........LETS JUST SAY IT WAS DIFFERENT TO US. To deny their existence is foolhardy.

[Bogie Shooter]

My husband said the body of a roof rat or citrus rat is approx. 6 inches and with the tail it was 9 or 10 inches, which is much smaller than a Norway rat such as found in Boston, New York City, all cities.....in sewers, farming areas, across the country...........typical ship rats. We saw one on the road in Saint Augustine that the total length, body and tail , was a good 18 inches or larger, maybe even 24, but it was BIG.

The ones in Venice were dark brown or blackish. Not grey.

Now in Vermont we have lots of field mice that seek to come into warm homes in the autumn months........they are about 2 to 4 inches....they come in various colors, tan and grey, dark brown and light brown. You'd never confuse them with a rat. People set traps in their garages to discourage their entry into the house. My husband said he would set a trap in TV in the garage. Another poster, earlier, said NOT to grill in the lanai as they can tear through the screen when they smell the food. Her husband set a trap to catch the critter.

p.s. My husband just suggested that if the Homeowners Association raised everyone in TV by $5 a month, they'd have plenty of money to hire a crew of ten, buy all the necessary poisons to handle this rodent issue and keep everyone happy..........We sold our Venice beachfront condo in 1995, however, recently have noticed that all condos now come with "pest control" as part of the Homeowners fees, etc.
It wasn't part of the deal back then. He still recalls the fisherman pulling out rats from the the waterway down by the Venice Jetties.......they would cast with a lure and catch rats for "sport" every night. There were vacation homes on this waterway.........LETS JUST SAY IT WAS DIFFERENT TO US. To deny their existence is foolhardy.

There is not a Homeowners Association in TV.

[mulligan]

And we can thank our lucky stars for that!!!!

[chuckster]

I'll second that..........:thumbup:

[senior citizen]

There is not a Homeowners Association in TV.

Well, then to whomever we would pay our "fees" for garbage removal, and so forth.....general upkeep of the grounds of TV.

Must be some group.

Perhaps it would be paid to the same place that we would pay the ammenities fees to.

What he meant was that it could be a small amount shared by all to exterminate whatever vermin do exist and to stop their growth.

In a condo it would be the HO Association. That is what I was referring to. 16 years ago there was no pest control "fees". Now there are.
Meaning...........they addressed the problem and at least are trying to eradicate it. TV could do the same......whoever the "powers that be" are.

[Bill-n-Brillo]

senior, here's a link from www.districtgov.org that should help answer your questions:

http://www.districtgov.org/faq.aspx

Bill :)

[graciegirl]

Well, then to whomever we would pay our "fees" for garbage removal, and so forth.....general upkeep of the grounds of TV.

Must be some group.

Perhaps it would be paid to the same place that we would pay the ammenities fees to.

What he meant was that it could be a small amount shared by all to exterminate whatever vermin do exist and to stop their growth.

In a condo it would be the HO Association. That is what I was referring to. 16 years ago there was no pest control "fees". Now there are.
Meaning...........they addressed the problem and at least are trying to eradicate it. TV could do the same......whoever the "powers that be" are.


Senior, Have you made that first trip here yet to see how this place looks and works? It is so much fun, if you haven't done it, you will love it, and it is an eye opener for sure. There isn't any place to my way of thinking that even comes close to how great it is, and how well maintained. It is the CDD form of government, where the people who live here do not have a direct vote in affecting change, but so far to me at least, I like everything the way it is.

I think that there is no rat problem. There are probably wild ones here and there and maybe they are trotting around colony parking lot because all their natural habitat just across the street has recently been stirred up and really destroyed making the way for new homes. Kathie saw some there and that may be the reason....or they may have hitched a ride on a truck from some highly poplulated urban area up north, but I sincerely doubt it. We DO have a lot of sandhill cranes, mourning doves, geckos, fire ants, blue herons, and alligators hanging around, not to mention the sweet furry dogs who lead their owners up and down the streets.

I can't remember reading Senior that you had made a visit yet, but I may have missed it. I am sure you will love it here.

[senior citizen]

Senior, Have you made that first trip here yet to see how this place looks and works? It is so much fun, if you haven't done it, you will love it, and it is an eye opener for sure. There isn't any place to my way of thinking that even comes close to how great it is, and how well maintained. It is the CDD form of government, where the people who live here do not have a direct vote in affecting change, but so far to me at least, I like everything the way it is.

I think that there is no rat problem. There are probably wild ones here and there and maybe they are trotting around colony parking lot because all their natural habitat just across the street has recently been stirred up and really destroyed making the way for new homes. Kathie saw some there and that may be the reason....or they may have hitched a ride on a truck from some highly poplulated urban area up north, but I sincerely doubt it. We DO have a lot of sandhill cranes, mourning doves, geckos, fire ants, blue herons, and alligators hanging around, not to mention the sweet furry dogs who lead their owners up and down the streets.

I can't remember reading Senior that you had made a visit yet, but I may have missed it. I am sure you will love it here.

Thank you Gracie.......and believe it or not, we are finally on our way at the end of this year.

The "sighted rats" are no doubt stirred up and "relocated" when the new neighborhoods go in. 50 years ago, the land TV sits on now, surely must have been horse farms, general farming lands and just rural Florida. I'm certain the critters were here long before any of us........(I mean their ancestors).

Our daughter in law was raised on a horse / cattle farm in Oregon and relates how she would shoot rattlesnakes with a shot gun. Critters were in the barns and such.

Where ever there are animals, farms, "feed", etc. there will be "critters".

I'm not using that other word anymore, since it seems to evoke such disdain.

If The Villages did not appear to be such a lovely place with such great folks, we never would be researching it in the first place. Thanks again.

Believe it or not, Vermont has "farm" rats as well......much bigger than those citrus rats.......oops, critters......but as one other poster said, they are nocturnal, and definitely not seen running around, which would give anyone the creeps. No one would be ostracized for calling a "critter" to someone's attention up here. Everyone would want them exterminated pronto.

Up until 16 years ago, "critters" never once entered my thought pattern.
But the experience made us "think" that they are indeed around.

They are all over, in every state, city, and rural area.

Not to worry. Hubby is a good hunter. Three years ago he caught at least two dozen (or more) huge groundhogs / woodchucks, which are much bigger, much more ornery, etc. in our have a heart trap and "relocated" them to the forest.

We had a literal groundhog invasion for several summers , until we tore up their habitat, their underground tunnels and "rooms" right off our back patio........had it all excavated, put on a deck and new low evergreens that they could not hide within..............didn't see a single one until this spring......he transported "it" away also.........and we put in sonar? thingies and mothballs which seem to repel these critters...............but still see the red fox walking up and down the road.

We are used to all types of wildlife........just don't want them running around on our property....or getting into our home. A family of deer cross through our backyard all the time........looking for apples. This area used to be apple orchards. Nuff said. I do believe the posters who saw the critters.

[graciegirl]

Welcome Patlyn.

Are you someone who used to be someone else or are you someone who plays in front of rats? Do they hit into you?

Patlyn. I apologize, someone on this forum who I just absolutely love and respect has pointed out that I have been rude to you in asking if you had changed names. I honestly, did NOT think of it as being rude, until she said so. I think that a lot of people come on with new names from time to time, and I see no harm in it. I was just wondering if you had a new name, or if you were someone who used to post a long time ago and had some sad or angry interchange. I will not ask anyone new again the same question. I would not have done it at all, if I thought it was rude. Tony called me for it some time ago, and frankly I was confused and discouraged as to why he did. But now since someone I know well, and respect completely has pointed out I should not question new posters, I will not do it again. EVER.

Bump...I am sorry Patlyn.

[Whatever]

What you are seeing is the Village Vole which resembles a mouse and/or rat and are quite prolific. They are also a favorite food of most of the other wildlife we have in The Villages. Primarily, they are the favorite food of snakes,owls, hawks and coyotes. IMO pehaps we ought have the VCDD invest in purchasing some additional snakes, and release them into our most overrun villages so as to feed upon the rodents and keep them under control. They, the voles, have about 4 litters a year and grow exponentially.

Next year we can discuss getting rid of the snakes.

[senior citizen]

senior, here's a link from www.districtgov.org that should help answer your questions:

http://www.districtgov.org/faq.aspx

Bill :)



THANK YOU !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just printed out the pages from both hyperlinks above, to read at our leisure.

Last month our daughter in law alerted us to a book that was shown on the front page of this forum, referring to all the rules and regulations, thinking we better be prepared.........at the time I told her that we pretty much understood what TV was all about.......and in our opinion, the majority of those rules and regulations were to actually protect the homeowners, their property and keep the place looking as good as it obviously does.

Up here in New England, zoning is pretty lax and whether in Vermont, New Hampshire or Maine, people can pretty much do what they want on their own properties........for good or ill. We've experienced both sides of the coin, so to speak. This is why we do our research to make sure.

Home studios and / or businesses are allowed in New England.
People can have as many vehicles as they want parked all over their own properties, whether it is an eyesore or not.......basically, anything goes.
Each man's home is his castle. Again, there are downsides to all of this.

However, in New Hampshire in particular and also amongst the old Maniacs, Vermonters, etc........freedom of speech is paramount.

We respect them for that......having lived here for well over 42 years after spending our first 20 something years in New Jersey, in the city and suburbs..........so we do have a frame of reference as to where the rules and regulations were (Venice, Florida) as opposed to say Vermont.

We had remodeled a condo on the beach, top to toe, attended our first Home Owners Association meeting at which we were the only 49 year olds........and simply asked if we could install a stackable washer and dryer in our condo unit while remodeling the kitchen.

You'd think we wanted to land an alien U.F.O. on the roof.

They wouldn't even "listen" when we explained that it was difficult to go up and down the elevators with my early stage Alzheimer Mom in tow, carrying the laundry to the designated laundry rooms (every other floor).

It was just the little things that made us happy to be back in a normal house again.

It would be a house and not a condo situation, this time around.
THANK YOU; WE WILL READ THE LAWS OF TV.

[graciegirl]

THANK YOU !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just printed out the pages from both hyperlinks above, to read at our leisure.

Last month our daughter in law alerted us to a book that was shown on the front page of this forum, referring to all the rules and regulations, thinking we better be prepared.........at the time I told her that we pretty much understood what TV was all about.......and in our opinion, the majority of those rules and regulations were to actually protect the homeowners, their property and keep the place looking as good as it obviously does.

Up here in New England, zoning is pretty lax and whether in Vermont, New Hampshire or Maine, people can pretty much do what they want on their own properties........for good or ill. We've experienced both sides of the coin, so to speak. This is why we do our research first.


Home studios and / or businesses are allowed in New England.
People can have as many vehicles as they want parked all over their own properties, whether it is an eyesore or not.......basically, anything goes.
Each man's home is his castle. Again, there are downsides to all of this.

However, in New Hampshire in particular and also amongst the old Maniacs, Vermonters, etc........freedom of speech is paramount.

We respect them for that......having lived here for well over 42 years after spending our first 20 something years in New Jersey, in the city and suburbs..........so we do have a frame of reference as to where the rules and regulations were (Venice, Florida) as opposed to say Vermont.

We had remodeled a condo on the beach, top to toe, attended our first Home Owners Association meeting at which we were the only 49 year olds........and simply asked if we could install a stackable washer and dryer in our condo unit while remodeling the kitchen.

You'd think we wanted to land an alien U.F.O. on the roof.

They wouldn't even "listen" when we explained that it was difficult to go up and down the elevators with my early stage Alzheimer Mom in tow, carrying the laundry to the designated laundry rooms (every other floor).

It was just the little things that made us happy to be back in a normal house again.

It would be a house and not a condo situation, this time around.
THANK YOU; WE WILL READ THE LAWS OF TV.


Oh Senior, wait until the first time you really come here and see this place with your own eyes..
Senior...reading is one thing, but NOTHING is like your first sojourn down the streets of TV...and I have said this before, each time we return from the "outside" and enter the greenness, the lushness, the perfectly paintedness, the prettiness, the plantedness, the sweet waving peopleness of TV, the colors brighten, the music comes on and the sun shines brilliantly.

It is just like when the color came on in the Wizard of Oz.

[Bogie Shooter]

Nuff said. .

Amen.

[Bill-n-Brillo]

...... in our opinion, the majority of those rules and regulations were to actually protect the homeowners, their property and keep the place looking as good as it obviously does. ........

senior -

Here's another link from www.districtgov.org that lets you download the deed restrictions for homes in any part of TV. Always best to look through such things prior to buying:

http://www.districtgov.org/departments/community-standards/download.aspx

Bill :)

[senior citizen]

What you are seeing is the Village Vole which resembles a mouse and/or rat and are quite prolific. They are also a favorite food of most of the other wildlife we have in The Villages. Primarily, they are the favorite food of snakes,owls, hawks and coyotes. IMO pehaps we ought have the VCDD invest in purchasing some additional snakes, and release them into our most overrun villages so as to feed upon the rodents and keep them under control. They, the voles, have about 4 litters a year and grow exponentially.

Next year we can discuss getting rid of the snakes.






I had no luck trying to copy the hyperlink........but this is what I found on voles.......the link would have been better as it showed various pictures.

Vole Species
Meadow Vole
Florida Salt Marsh Vole
Arctic Voles
Southern Red-back Voles
Bank Vole
Water Vole
Prairie Vole
CA Vole
Red-backed Vole
Snow Vole

Vole FAQ
What a Vole Looks Like
What do Voles Eat
What is a Vole
Mole & Vole Difference

Vole Control

How to get rid of Voles
How to Kill Voles

Vole Picture
Field Mice Classification
Vole Species - Approximately 70 vole species have been discovered which include: meadow Vole, Florida salt marsh vole, Arctic voles, southern red-back voles, bank vole, water vole, CA vole and red-backed vole.


The meadow vole is one of the most common species of vole. Meadow Vole behavior is consistent with that of most vole species in that it is mainly nocturnal. The meadow vole life cycle is usually complete in less than a year.

Meadow Vole

Microtus pennsylvanicus is the most widespread vole in North America. Its east to west range is continuous from central Alaska to the Atlantic coast. South of the Canadian border, the meadow vole's western limit is the Rocky mountains. It can also be found as far south as the states of New Mexico and Georgia.

Meadow voles eat mainly green vegetation

This is invariably the familiar 'mouse' that you see scurrying about in grassy meadows or stubble fields on your outdoor rambles. Meadow voles have a body about 4 inches long and a tail of about 1 1/2 inches. They weigh roughly 1 l/2 ounces and their ears are short. The back and sides are grayish brown and belly is much lighter. These small mammals can be distinguished from mice by their relatively short tail.

The Meadow Vole is active usually at night and only occasionally during the day. The diet of this vole consists almost entirely of green vegetation and tubers, including many grasses, clover, and plantain. The animal produces grass cuttings as it reaches up and cuts off the stalk, pulls it down and cuts it again, until the seed heads are reached. The vole apparently consumes flowers, leaves, and all but the tough outer layer of the stalk, eating almost its own weight daily.


The most relevant links we could find, placed here free
FCPS - This page has information about meadow voles as well as pictures and video clips. www.fcps.k12.va.us

Animal Diversity - This page lots of information about the characteristics and behaviour of meadow voles. animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu


Like many vole species it constructs a system of surface runways and underground burrows. The spherical grass nest may be located in the burrows in summer or in a depression on the surface under matted vegetation. In the wintertime, the vole's life changes. They live above ground, but under the snow where it is warmer than the open air. Meadow voles must find food above ground and they will gnaw on the bark of bushes for nourishment, leaving behind fine tooth marks.

Meadow voles live in burrows

Female voles have three to six litters of four to seven young in a year and most voles live much less than a year. The vole population in any given area tends to pass through a boom and bust cycle over a three- or four-year period. Although these animals tend to live close together, they are aggressive towards each other. This is particularly evident in males during the breeding season. They can cause damage to fruit trees, garden plants and commercial grain crops.



Again, I TRIED TO COPY AND PASTE THE HYPERLINK TO THIS, BUT IT WOULDN'T WORK............but now it sounds like voles are common field mice???????

The Florida voles seem to be on the endangered species list. Those would be the salt marsh voles.....limited to a certain area near Cedar Key.

I do remember when a vole walked past President Obama's podium and was caught on camera; everyone thought it was the "other critter" but experts then claimed it was a vole.

Also, while in South Dakota enroute to Mount Rushmore we thought that the prairie dogs (big rat like things) who scurried around our feet in and out of their holes........were adorable. Guess other critters just get a bad rap. But up here, field mice have long tails........these voles are FURRIER with short tails.

[senior citizen]

Oh Senior, wait until the first time you really come here and see this place with your own eyes..
Senior...reading is one thing, but NOTHING is like your first sojourn down the streets of TV...and I have said this before, each time we return from the "outside" and enter the greenness, the lushness, the perfectly paintedness, the prettiness, the plantedness, the sweet waving peopleness of TV, the colors brighten, the music comes on and the sun shines brilliantly.

It is just like when the color came on in the Wizard of Oz.

You do paint a lovely picture Gracie and I truly believe you.

Summer and autumn, Vermont sees many Floridian tourists who come up here to escape the heat......and they likewise enjoy our most unpopulated state roads and byways while viewing the beautiful emerald green mountains, tiny quaint villages and numerous horse and dairy farms............not to mention our gorgeous fall foliage which we call "leaf peeper" time....

Alas, the winters can be harsh as we age, the mountain road driving not the easiest thing to do and that is why so many Vermonters either winter in Florida or move down permanently.

I doubt if you could find a greener state than Vermont. It would remind one of Ireland. When my mom, who retired up here from New Jersey and enjoyed 30 years of retired life......would return from a Senior Citizen bus trip, she would say she felt like kissing the ground.....that it was indeed "God's Country" and she was right. It was a great place to raise a family.

Springtime with the tulips, apple trees in blossom and all the wildflowers along the roadsides, also is a lovely time of year..........of course up here, one always has to watch out for a moose or deer in the road (they do cause accidents).

Warmer climate is what we seek for our golden years. Hubby just retired in January but spent a few more months closing up the store and packing.
He ran himself into the ground and ended up with pneumonia......this is why our trip to TV has been delayed.......as they say, "Life is What Happens When You Are Making Other Plans".

Ohio is also a beautiful state which we've been to many times when our son lived in Cincinnati and worked for Proctor and Gamble Corporation. We always take the "road less traveled" and try to stay off the major highways if we can........we enjoyed the Ohio Amish countryside a lot. Very pretty.

[smalldog]

Smalldog SEZ
when in Honolulu in many areas you will see a section of tin arround the palm trees which is to prevent critters from climbing up into them and nesting :BigApplause:
I heard on WVLG that when a gator gets to be 5 feet long it is removed and becomes shoes or a briefcase or on the menue of an eatery:throwtomatoes: when you see gators in the wild it is hard to feel sorry for them but this seems somehow unfair :(
WE seem to beare missing our pet gator from the Pond at the corner of Baily Trail and Buena Vista ............ya don't suppose do ya :22yikes:

[swimdawg]

Oh Senior, wait until the first time you really come here and see this place with your own eyes..
Senior...reading is one thing, but NOTHING is like your first sojourn down the streets of TV...and I have said this before, each time we return from the "outside" and enter the greenness, the lushness, the perfectly paintedness, the prettiness, the plantedness, the sweet waving peopleness of TV, the colors brighten, the music comes on and the sun shines brilliantly.

It is just like when the color came on in the Wizard of Oz.

And the only thing missing is Toto.......

Pack your bags, Lexi, we're heading south!

[senior citizen]

senior -

here's another link from www.districtgov.org that lets you download the deed restrictions for homes in any part of tv. Always best to look through such things prior to buying:

http://www.districtgov.org/departments/community-standards/download.aspx

bill :)


thank you so very much bill and brillo....

[pivo]

Senior, reply to your husband hunting woodchucks, I originally came
from Pa. and we use to hunt woodchucks continually and my mother
use to prepare it just like chicken, if you never ate woodchuck you and your husband should try it its better than chicken
Pivo

[The Villager II]

Leave the gaters in the ponds. If you remove them, you will give dummies a sense of security and that is the real danger.
Leave the gaters in the ponds and follow the rules of nature that protects Florida Natives and anyone with good sense from harm. Gaters will come into the ponds from outside over and over again. Even if you could rid all the waterways in The Villages of gaters, you have snakes that live close to the water. Better to follow natures rules and cautions rather than try to alter it.

[GeorgeT]

Senior, reply to your husband hunting woodchucks, I originally came
from Pa. and we use to hunt woodchucks continually and my mother
use to prepare it just like chicken, if you never ate woodchuck you and your husband should try it its better than chicken
Pivo

Reminds me of the Geico commercial where the farmer is yelling at the woodchucks to stop chucking his wood.

[senior citizen]

Senior, reply to your husband hunting woodchucks, I originally came
from Pa. and we use to hunt woodchucks continually and my mother
use to prepare it just like chicken, if you never ate woodchuck you and your husband should try it its better than chicken
Pivo

Well, I do realize that some hunters eat that stuff as when he'd go up to deer hunting camp, some of the guys would bring stews made out of all types of these critters. (He just told me it was opposum / possum...and Gary the cop made it.......he also made soap from the fat and then with the meat he made a stew). I would send up chili made the normal way. Others made rabbit stew.

I didn't say he hunted the groundhogs, but that he trapped them in his have a heart trap in our back yard....then relocated them to the forest. He didn't shoot them. With all the ones he captured, he said I could have had two great fur coats, gloves, hats, etc. Kidding of course. I have pictures of these groundhogs (I mentioned woodchuck as it is another name for them).

Well, if our economy crashes we may all have to get your mom's recipe.

[l2ridehd]

I grew up very poor, however we never went hungry. And yes we ate woodchuck, squirrel, raccoon, rabbit, venison, bear, moose, and a few others I probably didn't know about. And we didn't exactly follow the hunting seasons if the animal was available. But there was almost always some type of meat on the table along with home grown vegetables. Mom used to can everything from the garden. We used to have cows, pigs and chickens so plenty of milk, butter, cream, eggs and bacon. We did our own maple syrup and made lard for pie crusts. We never had any money but we did eat well and very little was wasted. Extras would be sold to buy sugar and flour and a few other staples. Did our own dried beans and apples. Had a big root cellar where lots of food was stored through the winter. We made pickles and grape juice and jellies and jams and cured the hams. And the good news is I remember how to do most of that stuff.

[senior citizen]

I grew up very poor, however we never went hungry. And yes we ate woodchuck, squirrel, raccoon, rabbit, venison, bear, moose, and a few others I probably didn't know about. And we didn't exactly follow the hunting seasons if the animal was available. But there was almost always some type of meat on the table along with home grown vegetables. Mom used to can everything from the garden. We used to have cows, pigs and chickens so plenty of milk, butter, cream, eggs and bacon. We did our own maple syrup and made lard for pie crusts. We never had any money but we did eat well and very little was wasted. Extras would be sold to buy sugar and flour and a few other staples. Did our own dried beans and apples. Had a big root cellar where lots of food was stored through the winter. We made pickles and grape juice and jellies and jams and cured the hams. And the good news is I remember how to do most of that stuff.

So, maple syrup would mean you were raised in Vermont?

When we first moved up here in 1970 from New Jersey, we soon discovered that most of the native Vermonters did know how to live off the land, such as you described. They also made their own ketchup and soap, candles,, etc. in addition to consuming all the foods you've mentioned above.

It's hard to believe, but there were some parts of Vermont that did not have electricity until the 1960's. We've seen this on Vermont Public Television.

Being a very unpopulated state, people learned to live off the land and provide for themselves enough food to last through the long winters.

Squirrel and raccoon were the others that found their way into stews up at hunting camp.

Nowadays there are Price Choppers and Shaws Markets in all the larger towns, but in the old days, the simple life was led by most Vermonters.

Your family's ways are a lost art. We'd all starve to death nowadays.
I often say that if , by some act of terrorism, our electric grid nation wide was destroyed.......the supermarkets wouldn't even know how to tally up the customer's bills.......plus the food would eventually perish.....and the rest of us wouldn't know what to do.....once our dried pantry staples like rice and such ran out.

[rubicon]

I recently read an article that explained world wide the most consumed meat was goat.

[l2ridehd]

Actually NH not VT. If I grew up in VT, I would have been hunting the people, not the game, there way to liberal for me in VT. :D

[Russ_Boston]

I recently read an article that explained world wide the most consumed meat was goat.

Off topic - but I love Goat! Portuguese stewed style!

[senior citizen]

Actually NH not VT. If I grew up in VT, I would have been hunting the people, not the game, there way to liberal for me in VT. :D

NOT EVERYONE IS LIBERAL. Vermont was a very conservative state at one time. Lots of newcomers may have changed the politcal scene, not to mention the hippies from the 1970's. You'd be surprised how the average locals do not agree with the politicians.

That's not nice to say you'd hunt the Vermont folks.

Whenever we pass through New Hampshire to get to the seacoast and up to Maine........there is always that one traffic cop up in the mountains that pulls everyone from Vermont over and gives them a ticket. Is that you?????

[l2ridehd]

LOL, no but I need to find his name and go congratulate him on his common sense. I grew up in the White Mountains.

I agree a lot of the change in Vermont was because of the influx of people. The same has happened to NH with all the Mass people moving there. It is the strangest thing. People move from Mass to NH to get away from the high taxes and government control. And then they demand all the services they no longer get and the cost of government and the taxes go up. Still great country to live in, at least in the summer.

[Patlyn]

Amazing!..I am really new to this forum, but after reading the comment from Gracie, I wonder why I am even on here at all. I have only shared what I have personally seen. I am not new to TV, and I have seen a rat (once in a while), but recently it appears to be an increase. I was hoping for a solution to the problem. I am choosing not to comment in the future. I will be leaving this forum. Life is too short!!

[GeorgeT]

Amazing!..I am really new to this forum, but after reading the comment from Gracie, I wonder why I am even on here at all. I have only shared what I have personally seen. I am not new to TV, and I have seen a rat (once in a while), but recently it appears to be an increase. I was hoping for a solution to the problem. I am choosing not to comment in the future. I will be leaving this forum. Life is too short!!

Patlyn, don't be discouraged. Just like all forums this one has it's click. Right now the click has been on some sort of which hunt accusing posters of being someone else that the click banished in the past.

This is a really great site with tons and tons of useful information. I would call this site the Google of The Villages. There are also many good vendors who advertise here.

George

[graciegirl]

Amazing!..I am really new to this forum, but after reading the comment from Gracie, I wonder why I am even on here at all. I have only shared what I have personally seen. I am not new to TV, and I have seen a rat (once in a while), but recently it appears to be an increase. I was hoping for a solution to the problem. I am choosing not to comment in the future. I will be leaving this forum. Life is too short!!

Patlyn.

What comment would that be? Perhaps you could find it and press the quote key below so that we would know.

Kindest wishes,
Gracie

George T.

Are you the same George who came to our home? I enjoy your good natured humor on here so much!

I don't think there is a clique. There are frequent posters on here who banter back and forth, but I have always felt that everyone is welcome. We all have our own views and our own styles and our own opinions...and we are older and a little stubborn and a little opinionated. Most of us have never met the other posters in person.

The recent get together on Sunday for Kathy and Gene from our home town in Cincinnati, who we met here on TOTV, was open to anyone who PM'd me.

It is never my intention to exclude anyone.

So could you tell us a little more about your view on the clique?

Kindest wishes,

Gracie

[Figmo Bohica]

OMG, a click, or is that clique? Finally, I belong to a clique, after all these years. Thank you GracieGirl, we had a ball meeting everyone in "your clique." After being called a domestic terrorist by our government, I am a retired disabled veteran its great to belong to a clique.

Have a great day Gracie, PTurner and the rest of that wonderful clique I am now a part of. See you all at Crispers for the TOTV clique meeting.

[graciegirl]

OMG, a click, or is that clique? Finally, I belong to a clique, after all these years. Thank you GracieGirl, we had a ball meeting everyone in "your clique." After being called a domestic terrorist by our government, I am a retired disabled veteran its great to belong to a clique.

Have a great day Gracie, PTurner and the rest of that wonderful clique I am now a part of. See you all at Crispers for the TOTV clique meeting.

I hate to out this nice fellow, but he is no more a domestic terrorist than I am a skilled golfer.

It was lovely to meet "Figmo" and his lovely wife in person.

[skyguy79]

I've seen 2 rats this week. Last one was Sunday, in Colony Plaza, he ran across the parking lot into a bush. The second was earlier this week, behind a restaurant in Spanish Springs. I thought I was seeing things, until I read this thread and saw the 2nd one. Just noticed this post and need to tell you that what you saw at Colony Plaza wasn't a rat at all. It was me! I had to take a leak real bad and was heading for the nearest bush on my scooter! Time to get the goggles checked dear! :1rotfl:

[red tail]

Amazing!..I am really new to this forum, but after reading the comment from Gracie, I wonder why I am even on here at all. I have only shared what I have personally seen. I am not new to TV, and I have seen a rat (once in a while), but recently it appears to be an increase. I was hoping for a solution to the problem. I am choosing not to comment in the future. I will be leaving this forum. Life is too short!!

been there also. i call it the TOTV girls club !!

[skyguy79]

Amazing!..I am really new to this forum, but after reading the comment from Gracie, I wonder why I am even on here at all. I have only shared what I have personally seen. I am not new to TV, and I have seen a rat (once in a while), but recently it appears to be an increase. I was hoping for a solution to the problem. I am choosing not to comment in the future. I will be leaving this forum. Life is too short!!What's really amazing to me is how one can feel that it's beneith them to accept an explaination and TWO apologies from someone and not just move on and enjoy this great site.

IMHO, with all due respect, perhaps you are making the right decision to leave this forum if you're going to take every little comment personally and be a frequent unhappy camper, even if it does make you miss all of what it has to offer!

[llaran]

Gators have a right to be there- UNLESS - they become a danger, up out of the pond and in the yard or Lanai.
The one I know about in the Tall Trees pond was never a problem but someone wanted in gone; they had to call a private gator person who baited a hook and the next day SHOT the gator and took it away. I understand the person said" i didn't know they would shoot it"

Rats - these are not City rats, as big as a cat! They are the size of a gerbil and are feed for the owls and other animals.

If they don't have food they will leave!!

[Barefoot]

Amazing!..I am really new to this forum, but after reading the comment from Gracie, I wonder why I am even on here at all. I have only shared what I have personally seen. I am not new to TV, and I have seen a rat (once in a while), but recently it appears to be an increase. I was hoping for a solution to the problem. I am choosing not to comment in the future. I will be leaving this forum. Life is too short!!

I do hope that you try TOTV again!

[GeorgeT]

Patlyn.

George T.

Are you the same George who came to our home? I enjoy your good natured humor on here so much!

I don't think there is a clique. There are frequent posters on here who banter back and forth, but I have always felt that everyone is welcome. We all have our own views and our own styles and our own opinions...and we are older and a little stubborn and a little opinionated. Most of us have never met the other posters in person.

Gracie

Nope, never been to your home. No problem but I beg to differ, there is a clique (yes, I used the wrong word ....click). When one of the clique is questioned or criticized the rest of the posse want to hang the guy. I don't really care anymore. The site is way more important to me then some of the posters.

[Figmo Bohica]

George T

If they let me in to their clique, then you will have no problems joining in with the rest of us mental deranged TVer's. Yepper if you ain't having fun you are in the wrong town. Come to the TOTV thingie and meet some face to face. It will change your whole attitude about the board.

[graciegirl]

Welcome Patlyn.



Patlyn. I apologize, someone on this forum who I just absolutely love and respect has pointed out that I have been rude to you in asking if you had changed names. I honestly, did NOT think of it as being rude, until she said so. I think that a lot of people come on with new names from time to time, and I see no harm in it. I was just wondering if you had a new name, or if you were someone who used to post a long time ago and had some sad or angry interchange. I will not ask anyone new again the same question. I would not have done it at all, if I thought it was rude. Tony called me for it some time ago, and frankly I was confused and discouraged as to why he did. But now since someone I know well, and respect completely has pointed out I should not question new posters, I will not do it again. EVER.

Patlyn. Perhaps you did not see this apology? I would not hurt someone on purpose. I will say it again. I am sorry.

[Figmo Bohica]

Graciegirl, you are the kindest, most charming lady I have had the pleasure of meeting since arriving in TV. But remember I still do NRA Home Portection Classes. LOL

[skyguy79]

George T

If they let me in to their clique, then you will have no problems joining in with the rest of us mental deranged TVer's. That description of TVer's clique members certainly cinches my qualification for the clique!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v334/csacks/smiley_abqt.gif

[Russ_Boston]

I like stories:)

[Trish Crocker]

Awww...can I join your clique?? Can't wait to meet all of you whenever I get down there!

[Russ_Boston]

Awww...can I join your clique?? Can't wait to meet all of you whenever I get down there!

I'm not the president but sure. Oh wait, am I even part of the clique? Please?

[ssmith]

It occurs to me that there are many differing personalities and, therefore, many differing reasons a person posts. Some just want information and some want relationship. Neither approach is the wrong one but sometimes the info people just want to get to the point and perhaps get annoyed with the rel peeps. Sometimes the rel peeps enjoy the banter back and fourth and the fun.
I have often thought and still believe that since this is the written word, many nuances of conversation cannot be properly interpretted and so some take offense when others were just funnin' with ya. I enjoy it all.

Come back Patlyn, it really is a great place! Gracie has apologized now is it 3 times?

[Larry Wilson]

Yes, you(Russ) and Gracie and a few others are like a tag team going after me and others. Patlyn and many others have stopped posting because of attacks. Only the clique protect their own and congratulations George for being brave enough to take them on.

[GeorgeT]

Yes, you(Russ) and Gracie and a few others are like a tag team going after me and others. Patlyn and many others have stopped posting because of attacks. Only the clique protect their own and congratulations George for being brave enough to take them on.

Larry,

Thanks for speaking up but I'm not taking on anyone. I hate confrontations. I was only stating the obvious. It seems though that this thing has gone viral. I evidently have struck a cord with several posters. TH would be proud.

[angiefox10]

*hides under bed*

[Russ_Boston]

Yes, you(Russ) and Gracie and a few others are like a tag team going after me and others. Patlyn and many others have stopped posting because of attacks. Only the clique protect their own and congratulations George for being brave enough to take them on.

Quite frankly Larry, most of the time I respond to a post I don't even look at who it is. I say what I feel as you probably know. It would be hypocritical of me to change my response based on the writer. Just because many of us have the same bent it may seem like a clique. But you know what? The vast majority of those that you think are the 'clique' have become friends in real life - the only place that really matters! I've met two, maybe three dozen or more TOTVers in person and have become friends that play golf, play pickleball, have drinks, have dinner at each other's house etc. etc. If that's a clique then more power to us!!!

And you know what? I'd love to be friends with you. I bet you'd find us all so much more likable than you're currently imagining.

[Frangyomory]

Tall Trees pool also had a rat problem but I haven't seen any recently. As for the gators, this is Florida and you are likely to see them in most, if not all, retention ponds.