Brad the alligator

[dhdallas]

I worry that Brad, our local alligator living in Bradford, has enough habitat to support him. He (or she as I never got close enough to look) lives in a small pond east of Dray Drive. I read that a female alligator can normally roam about in 10 acres of habitat and a male will roam about even more.

Brad (or Bradley if we are being formal) is prevented from venturing into the Nature Preserve just east of the pond because it is fenced off. He is hemmed in on the other sides by the homes.

According to the FWC an average size adult alligator eats every 5-6 days and requires 6-8 pounds of food - fish, birds, small dogs, etc. and will venture as far as 170 feet from the water to get food.

My question is, will this pond area support his needs or does he need to be relocated? I am a Yankee and a brand new snowbird so pardon my ignorance if I am concerned over nothing.

[vintageogauge]

They will travel through the storm drain system also through the yards. He/she will find their way to food, keep your cats inside as they do tend to disappear.

[JohnN]

The females tend to be meaner! LOL jk

[Stu from NYC]

The females tend to be meaner! LOL jk

So very true

[graciegirl]

So very true

When I was younger I frequently defended females, but as I grow older and maybe wiser, I find I like men better. The way they think, the way they don't eat cats.

Oh, we were talking about alligators.

[bagboy]

From recent events, alligators that get named by residents usually don't last too long. One way or another.

[sail33or]

I actually know something about alligators.

Do not worry. The Gator can easily move about. This is Florida and has water and swamps everywhere. They walk very well and can out run you.

In the winter/cold they hardly move and do not require much food.

Fences do not stop them. They can dig a hole or tunnel in minutes.

Highways are a problem though but not the neighborhood roadways.

Even a 4 ft gator will grab a cat or small dog so fast you can't stop it. So do not walk them around ponds.

[karostay]

From recent events, alligators that get named by residents usually don't last too long. One way or another.

100% worst thing you can do draw attention to animal
remember Larry

[Stu from NYC]

When I was younger I frequently defended females, but as I grow older and maybe wiser, I find I like men better. The way they think, the way they don't eat cats.

Oh, we were talking about alligators.

Funny

[Mortal1]

The usual result when you let the authorities know about a gator is that they're are trapped and killed. On rare occasions a gater farm(or other interested party) will take them in.

Don't worry about gators....they are not an endangered species.

[HoosierPa]

Relocated means KILLED. They are not relocated regardless of what you have been told.

If you complain, they kill them

[Don5154]

AI worry that Brad, our local alligator living in Bradford, has enough habitat to support him. He (or she as I never got close enough to look) lives in a small pond east of Dray Drive. I read that a female alligator can normally roam about in 10 acres of habitat and a male will roam about even more.

Brad (or Bradley if we are being formal) is prevented from venturing into the Nature Preserve just east of the pond because it is fenced off. He is hemmed in on the other sides by the homes.

According to the FWC an average size adult alligator eats every 5-6 days and requires 6-8 pounds of food - fish, birds, small dogs, etc. and will venture as far as 170 feet from the water to get food.

My question is, will this pond area support his needs or does he need to be relocated? I am a Yankee and a brand new snowbird so pardon my ignorance if I am concerned over nothing.

Nature will take care of itself...these gators were not placed there by TV...if they don’t like the area, they will move on....gators have been around long before people :MOJE_whot:

[Two Bills]

100% worst thing you can do draw attention to animal
remember Larry

Larry was probably the only gator from TV not to finish as a belt, purse or a pair of shoes.
Lucky Larry!

[coconutmama]

I actually know something about alligators.

Do not worry. The Gator can easily move about. This is Florida and has water and swamps everywhere. They walk very well and can out run you.

In the winter/cold they hardly move and do not require much food.

Fences do not stop them. They can dig a hole or tunnel in minutes.

Highways are a problem though but not the neighborhood roadways.

Even a 4 ft gator will grab a cat or small dog so fast you can't stop it. So do not walk them around ponds.

AND they can climb chain link fencing if they need to. Resourceful. Their species will probably outlast humans

[Cassieb]

Unfortunately you may have just given Brad his death sentence by bringing this attention to him.

[RWhitburn]

Please don’t announce the location of gators. Then people want to go see them, then they bring the grandchildren, then FWC is called, and then Brad is gone...

[b0bd0herty]

I actually know something about alligators.


Even a 4 ft gator will grab a cat or small dog so fast you can't stop it. So do not walk them around ponds.

Unless you want to ensure it remains fed. :)

[Cranford61]

They will travel through the storm drain system also through the yards. He/she will find their way to food, keep your cats inside as they do tend to disappear.
Cats shouldn’t be outside. Nationwide it is estimated that they kill 3 billion songbirds a year...for sport. I love songbirds. Go gators!

[Larchap49]

I worry that Brad, our local alligator living in Bradford, has enough habitat to support him. He (or she as I never got close enough to look) lives in a small pond east of Dray Drive. I read that a female alligator can normally roam about in 10 acres of habitat and a male will roam about even more.

Brad (or Bradley if we are being formal) is prevented from venturing into the Nature Preserve just east of the pond because it is fenced off. He is hemmed in on the other sides by the homes.

According to the FWC an average size adult alligator eats every 5-6 days and requires 6-8 pounds of food - fish, birds, small dogs, etc. and will venture as far as 170 feet from the water to get food.

My question is, will this pond area support his needs or does he need to be relocated? I am a Yankee and a brand new snowbird so pardon my ignorance if I am concerned over nothing.

If residents start feeding him he will quickly lose his fear of humans and if he is more than 4 feet he won't be relocated he will be killed. That is how the trappers are paid.

[tonycirocco@me.com]

Gators CAN climb fences.

Give Brad space, don't go too close, and KEEP YOUR DOG (if you have one) on a leash.

Welcome to FL, gator land.

Tony

I worry that Brad, our local alligator living in Bradford, has enough habitat to support him. He (or she as I never got close enough to look) lives in a small pond east of Dray Drive. I read that a female alligator can normally roam about in 10 acres of habitat and a male will roam about even more.

Brad (or Bradley if we are being formal) is prevented from venturing into the Nature Preserve just east of the pond because it is fenced off. He is hemmed in on the other sides by the homes.

According to the FWC an average size adult alligator eats every 5-6 days and requires 6-8 pounds of food - fish, birds, small dogs, etc. and will venture as far as 170 feet from the water to get food.

My question is, will this pond area support his needs or does he need to be relocated? I am a Yankee and a brand new snowbird so pardon my ignorance if I am concerned over nothing.

[airstreamingypsy]

Cats shouldn’t be outside. Nationwide it is estimated that they kill 3 billion songbirds a year...for sport. I love songbirds. Go gators!

People who love their cats don't let them outside.

[Rlheinz19@yahoo.com]

People who love their cats don't let them outside.

Please don't tell my husband. We are moving down in a couple of months and he would like to get rid of the cats.

[JohnN]

Alligators are faster than people over short distances, so stay clear.

[Jerry Leinsing]

Fencing doesn’t stop them. I personally saw one climb a wooden fence near east end of Hillsborough Trail. Go to web and search on alligator climbing a chainlink fence. So easy.

[bilcon]

I think Brad the Alligator can survive very well without your intervention. If you want to give him a treat, you may venture to the edge of the pond.

[Mfrench]

100% worst thing you can do draw attention to animal
remember Larry

Please don’t identify the location of alligators! The powers to be have no respect for nature and the local gators and end up destroying them, like Larry that was a local celebrity and enjoyed by all!! He was removed after a stupid resident said he was a danger and too tame!! She caused him to be roughly taken from his years long habitat for no reason at all!! That resident should have been removed from the Villages herself !!! The Villages said he was relocated at an allegation sanctuary! You want to bet?!! No one believes that for alligator hide is valuable. How stupid do they think we are!! So many children who enjoyed visiting him. As well as adults, we’re were terribly upset! Specialists admit that capture methods injure and often kill the alligators, so removing him in the dead if night was a devious way for the Villages to avoid a harsh protest! They have proven, over and over, that they have no respect for the wishes of the Villagers. A vote should have been taken from the residents before taking such divisive action. SO, do not report the location of alligators, which will surely cause their demise and that of our beautiful Florida ambiance which is part of why we enjoy living here.

[dhdallas]

Please don’t announce the location of gators. Then people want to go see them, then they bring the grandchildren, then FWC is called, and then Brad is gone...

I feel awful now. I hope I am not the cause of his demise. In the future I will never call attention to an animal again. Lesson learned and hoping the alligator doesn't pay fot it.

[Bellavita]

Gators don't eat much in the winter and if he or she gets hungry they will move. They move all the time, pond to pond food mates who knows. But be sure , if there is a body of water ..there is a gator in it.

[1948JDG]

I can always use an alligator wallet and shoes.

[dewilson58]

100% worst thing you can do draw attention to animal
remember Larry


RIP Larry.

[PugMom]

The females tend to be meaner! LOL jk

oh, You!! :1rotfl:

[rmd2]

When I was younger I frequently defended females, but as I grow older and maybe wiser, I find I like men better. The way they think, the way they don't eat cats.

Oh, we were talking about alligators.

That's true, women can get "catty". :duck:

[PugMom]

I feel awful now. I hope I am not the cause of his demise. In the future I will never call attention to an animal again. Lesson learned and hoping the alligator doesn't pay fot it.

listen, this thread can be removed, don't upset urself. gators are EVERYWHERE, there's a few up in our area, we just look & admire & they move on their way. because there are so many, your Brad may be long gone, & by the time somebody sees this post, he's most likely moved on to a whole other location. not for 1 minute do we expect serious forum members here are going to find you& camp out looking for him, lol. just keep it on the lowdown in ur neighborhood, & don't worry!! oxo

[EviesGP]

Over time, I've learned that there are some myths about alligators. First and foremost, their speed, agility, and aggressiveness. Gators are much more comfortable(and aggressive) in water, which is their natural habitat. On land, they're not very comfortable, as they can only run short distances before tiring. Their main weapon, is to grab their prey(primarily small animals), drag them under water, and drown them. They can't chew, so they let the item rot, then ingest it. I would think cats are too agile and fast, but small dogs, more likely. I've spoken to a few divers(fetching golf balls in retention ponds), and they've all been bitten about a dozen times. No big deal. They just carry a stick and poke them around the eyes. They don't like it, and scurry off. They're very aware of the size of humans, and will not go after larger objects, lest other circumstances(mating season, protecting young, or VERY hungry). And even then, the results are very rarely fatal.

As for Larry, I'm pretty sure he/they get removed when they become too comfortable with human interaction, not merely because they're named, identified, or even watched. It's when they start getting fed, and then learn to cozy up to humans. That's when something bad happens. Alligators will generally run into the water when approached by humans. When they don't, you can pretty much bet they'll get removed.

Just my opinion.

[yanksansky]

You really need to think about cat lovers that live in TV.

[Chi-Town]

I think Brad the Alligator can survive very well without your intervention. If you want to give him a treat, you may venture to the edge of the pond.

Now that's funny.

[Barefoot]

...

[Barefoot]

...

[Rbcrayone1]

I call him Lucky! I think he is pretty chill. Any time I have seen him with my dog he has jumped in the water.

[karostay]

Their relocated pond to deep fryer

[Stu from NYC]

I feel awful now. I hope I am not the cause of his demise. In the future I will never call attention to an animal again. Lesson learned and hoping the alligator doesn't pay fot it.

Well if it is a lion or a tiger you can let us all know.

[kcrazorbackfan]

The alligator will do fine.

You people need to learn to SHUT UP about the wildlife here in The Villages, especially the gators. It’s the quickest way to get rid of them by talking about them.....

[Joe V.]

The alligator will do fine.

You people need to learn to SHUT UP about the wildlife here in The Villages, especially the gators. It’s the quickest way to get rid of them by talking about them.....




All the alligators will not be removed because some people inform authorities about what they perceive as a nuisance alligator. Having worked several years for FL FWC (BTW this organization has undergone many name changes in the past so some may know of them by a different acronym) each nuisance case is individually investigated. If you report it to local authorities they are charged to report it to FWC. FWC makes the call.

The alligators are still protected by FL law, just no longer classified as endangered. Mass culling of docile gator populations does not occur. Estimates I have seen has the current FL gator population over 1,000,000. Given that an individual gator is deemed a threat to humans, or specific wildlife, it will be removed or destroyed.

If you feel threatened by a gator, report it. Just do not be surprised if the FWC does not remove that gator if they deem it not a nuisance. They certainly are not going to annihilate the entire gator population of an area for one nuisance gator.

"you people need to learn to shut up ...", really? Not a great way to influence people.

[Silver Streak]

There was a very large gator (7+ feet) by the Loblolly pond behind our house and another, smaller (4-5') one. We've enjoyed watching them sun themselves on the opposite bank and I privately named them Boots (the big one) and Purse. Well, a bit over a week ago, Boots started venturing onto the golf course, to the point several golfers visibly freaked out. A couple of times, he/she positioned itself right across the cart path. Now we haven't seen Boots in about a week and I suspect someone came and dealt with it. We never saw it being overtly aggressive, but it had clearly lost its fear of humans--no good. (Purse is still around and sunning him/herself.)

[photo1902]

All the alligators will not be removed because some people inform authorities about what they perceive as a nuisance alligator. Having worked several years for FL FWC (BTW this organization has undergone many name changes in the past so some may know of them by a different acronym) each nuisance case is individually investigated. If you report it to local authorities they are charged to report it to FWC. FWC makes the call.

The alligators are still protected by FL law, just no longer classified as endangered. Mass culling of docile gator postulations does not occur. Estimates I have seen has the current FL gator population over 1,000,000. Given that an individual gator is deemed a threat to humans, or specific wildlife, it will be removed or destroyed.

If you feel threatened by a gator, report it. Just do not be surprised if the FWC does not remove that gator if they deem it not a nuisance. They certainly are not going to annihilate the entire gator population of an area for one nuisance gator.

"you people need to learn to shut up ...", really? Not a great way to influence people.

Excellent points, both about FWC and manners.

People would be surprised how many calls FWC receives about “an alligator in a pond” in The Villages. As you stated, more often than not, the gator remains, as it’s not deemed a threat.

[txfan]

The only Gators i enjoy seeing “dealt with” are the University ones on a football field!

[PugMom]

i'd just like to add a reminder of where Larry's problem began--he was given a fb page & name plate. within a short period of time WESH-NEWS added fuel to the fire by showing up in brownwood for a local 'feel-good' story, & soon after the hammer fell. as long as we keep 'brad' off of fb., he should be ok :)

[kkeennyy]

How did BRAD get there ????????????

[kkeennyy]

Did the Villages place them there??

[Joeint]

I'm probably in the minority but I could care less if they trap and kill the gators in and around TV. There will be others that come and take their place, I bet there's another gator that's taken Larry's place. Once the gator is killed it will be used just like any other farmed animals think cows, pigs, salmon, deer, and countless others.

[Astron]

I worry that Brad, our local alligator living in Bradford, has enough habitat to support him. He (or she as I never got close enough to look) lives in a small pond east of Dray Drive. I read that a female alligator can normally roam about in 10 acres of habitat and a male will roam about even more.

Brad (or Bradley if we are being formal) is prevented from venturing into the Nature Preserve just east of the pond because it is fenced off. He is hemmed in on the other sides by the homes.

According to the FWC an average size adult alligator eats every 5-6 days and requires 6-8 pounds of food - fish, birds, small dogs, etc. and will venture as far as 170 feet from the water to get food.

My question is, will this pond area support his needs or does he need to be relocated? I am a Yankee and a brand new snowbird so pardon my ignorance if I am concerned over nothing.

If you call FWC they will send a ‘trapper’ who will lawfully kill Brad and sell the meat and hide. I saw that happen the last place I lived. Your choice, but I would leave Brad to take care of him/her self. .

[Spalumbos62]

Think before you post :MOJE_whot:

Sorry...I don't like them and definitely would report one if it was hanging out in my yard for example. I know I just totally made myself unpopular, but I am truly afraid of them.....bears too!!

[Stu from NYC]

How did BRAD get there ????????????

Let me explain.

Once upon a time a mommy and daddy alligator got together and wanted to start a family,

And than _____ (think you can guess the rest of the story).

[kcrazorbackfan]

All the alligators will not be removed because some people inform authorities about what they perceive as a nuisance alligator. Having worked several years for FL FWC (BTW this organization has undergone many name changes in the past so some may know of them by a different acronym) each nuisance case is individually investigated. If you report it to local authorities they are charged to report it to FWC. FWC makes the call.

The alligators are still protected by FL law, just no longer classified as endangered. Mass culling of docile gator populations does not occur. Estimates I have seen has the current FL gator population over 1,000,000. Given that an individual gator is deemed a threat to humans, or specific wildlife, it will be removed or destroyed.

If you feel threatened by a gator, report it. Just do not be surprised if the FWC does not remove that gator if they deem it not a nuisance. They certainly are not going to annihilate the entire gator population of an area for one nuisance gator.

"you people need to learn to shut up ...", really? Not a great way to influence people.

You can work on your mini doctoral thesis on gators and the FWC and I’ll continue to do my best to influence people (or not) about leaving wildlife alone.