Buffalo

[LI SNOWBIRD]

Where oh where are the buffalo? We've been here since '05 and I really do miss them. Does anyone know exactly why they were removed and replaced with steer? I've heard that people were injured by them while petting/feeding and ignoring the warning sign. Sigh . I'm sure there were threads on this but I'd like it anew as would newbies.
The buffalo were a delight to Villagers and guests alike.
Thanks

[ajbrown]

Last I knew they can be seen from Amberwood executive golf course. They are off to the right of the 6th hole if I remember the course right.

This is a picture from when they were on Old Mill.
http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af146/ajbrown2007/P1020516.jpg

I miss having them roaming also. It was just one more thing that made the experience of TV unique.

I have no idea the real story, but heard two rumors at golf courses, bars, etc:

1. Someone was injured and sued.
2. Morse had someone sue so he could put up houses where the buffalo roamed.

[Mikeod]

After seeing some ridiculous behavior around the critters, I tend to believe #1, AJ.

On the northbound cart path before it goes under 466, I saw a grandfather hoist his small grandchild up and over the fence with a carrot for the buffalo. I couldn't help thinking at the time if he would sue Morse if he dropped the kid into the corral and he was injured or killed.

Where Creekside homes are located, I saw people sticking their hands through the fence with things for the buffalo. People climbing on the fence to get closer.

Just because they were in TV, people seemed to think they were somehow domesticated and tranquil. They certainly were tranquil if you left them alone!!!

I agree that there are buffalo near Amberwood. Don't know if they are the ones that were here or not. But it is nice to see them, even if from a long distance.

[skip0358]

Don't know if they're the same ones or not but I saw a herd on North side of Rt44 W/O Rt 468 last week.

[JohnN]

I think the buffalo are unfortunately all residing at Publix now

[rubicon]

It was my understanding that they were moved to Wildwood? I doubt you will see the bison roaming in the TV anymore for the same reason they were moved in the first place. The Developer is going to build homes, etc on every empty lot in TV. Unless it is designated as protected by Florida he build something on it.:grumpy:

[Tom Hannon]

I asked Redwitch this question a while back. She sent me a long and accurate explaination. I might have it saved in my private messages. If Redwitch give permission, I will repost it for all of you.

[golfnut]

seems like you could have posted the explanation and not quoted the source,...gn

[Tom Hannon]

I'd rather not post the information without running it by Dee first.

[redwitch]

I gave Tom permission to post it. I'd copy and post, but I'm too tired and lazy. However, do understand that what I told Tom is based on my opinion given the facts that I do know and should not be taken as gospel but probably pretty darn good conjecture.

[rubicon]

Tom, redwitch gives us an explanation so we don't feel guilty about the fact that we may have purchased the poor critters from Publix.:22yikes:

[Tom Hannon]

I don't want to keep everyone in suspense any longer. This is Redwitch's explanation about the mystery of the disappearing buffalo. Remember this is her opinion and viewpoint. Although I have not been a Villager long enough to know much about anything, I have learned that when Redwitch speaks...people should listen. She knows what she is talking about.

Re: Buffalo

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

There were a couple of lawsuits where people were injured by the buf. The kid story was is based on truth -- grandma let kid feed the buf (um, they're wild animals stupid!), then set the kid on the fence for a pic. The buf wanted more food, butted the fence, the girl fell off, got hurt, parents sued. So, the excuse is no more buf because of liability issues.

My guess is the real reason is no more buf because they'd served their purpose (great tax write off as a semi-nature preserved for endangered animals; a good advertising gimmick) and the land was more valuable as developed land than a tax write off for the Morses.

Okay, call me cynical. Now, if you ask Gracie, I'm sure she'll tell you it was the lawsuits. Hey, the kid's suit wasn't the first one and there was no issue about getting rid of them before.

BTW -- I've heard they're still around, somewhere at the end of SR 42 on VERY private property. Don't know if that's true or not, but I hope so. I truly loved those mangy critters. They got me through many a night when I first moved here.

Dee

[graciegirl]

OH RED! They got you through many a night when you first moved here?

I mean, umm,..... did they call on you at your home?

And did you have a glass of wine together...

And did you talk about the world in general?

[rubicon]

Tom/Dee that is exactly what happened and it did give the Developer the cover he needed to move the bison to Wildwood. His original plan called for houses on both sides of Sumter Landing. Being the businessman that he is the bison served as an attraction until he built out around Sumter Landing. The homes built in Sumter Landing changed the view dramatically. That area of Buena Vista was inviting until he built there. :(

[Pturner]

Tom/Dee that is exactly what happened and it did give the Developer the cover he needed to move the bison to Wildwood. His original plan called for houses on both sides of Sumter Landing. Being the businessman that he is the bison served as an attraction until he built out around Sumter Landing. The homes built in Sumter Landing changed the view dramatically. That area of Buena Vista was inviting until he built there. :(

I've always heard about the buffalo but wasn't yet at TV. I have some questions, now that the issue was raised again.


Did the developer promise to keep the buffalo?
Was it part of his original development plan to eventually build around LSL?
Why would the developer have relocated buffalo before he was ready to build where they roamed? Why would he have needed a fake excuse to relocate them when he began building around LSL?

I'm always a little amused when someone faults a developer for developing his property. Isn't that what developers do? :shrug:

[JenAjd]

Seems there always has to be a conspiracy or controversy with _____fill in the blank! I tend to try to think "the best" of a situation instead of being cynical.

I am a recent resident here but had seen the buffalo the 1st time we came to visit 2 or 3 years ago. We have friends who've owned their place here for 13 years and they told us it was grandparents climbing the fence or placing their grandkids inside or both...someone got hurt so away with the animals due to the liability. People do crazy things and sometimes it affects everyone else. All other speculation aside...I tend to believe this one!!

[redwitch]

lol Gracie -- No, I'd go to them and watch them play. They really did like to butt heads around 2:00 am.

Phyllis, I don't think the Morses ever promised that the buffalo would be here forever but, from what I understand, it was implied and was certainly a big part of their advertising campaigns for a long time. I doubt that the nature preserves are technically permanent. If the developer chooses to drain them and build, he can and we'd be up in arms about that, too. I never said the developer didn't have the right to move the buffalo, I just miss them and so do many others. There was something majestic about those beasts and, regardless of the reason, there is something truly sad about them being moved and houses put up in their place.

[Larry Wilson]

We have lived here full time for 7 years. Loved the buffalo. Everybody did. There were no bulls in these pastures. Some cows were moved into barns to be bred. Then every spring there were calves born in the pastures. The residents really enjoyed these animals. Residents really fought to keep at least some of the buffalo.
There are many ways to fence that will take care of keeping humans and animals apart. People even offered to pay for these new fences.
Took the developer one day after moving the buffalo to start preparing the land for Creekside and was all built in 6 months. Worked around the clock with lights at night.
Since the pasture land has been turned into housing, I say actions speak louder than rumors.

[Barefoot]

Where oh where are the buffalo? We've been here since '05 and I really do miss them. Does anyone know exactly why they were removed and replaced with steer? I've heard that people were injured by them while petting/feeding and ignoring the warning sign. Sigh . I'm sure there were threads on this but I'd like it anew as would newbies.
The buffalo were a delight to Villagers and guests alike.
Thanks

The buffalo were removed from valuable land owned by the Developer and replaced with buildings. Which I'm sure was always the plan. I agree they were a delight. I miss the buffalo a lot, I loved seeing them in the pastures. But the Developer is doing what he does best, developing!

I'm sure a lot of us remember Joni Mitchell's "Big Yellow Taxi" ... "They paved paradise to put up a parking lot".

[rubicon]

No conspiracy or controversey suggested in my earlier post just an acknowledgment that as a businessman the Developer first used the buffalo as an attraction but had always planned on developing that land:D However I don't have to like what he did and I don't like overbuilding because it leads to overcrowding which is what occurred. If you don't believe it try crossing Old Mill Road between 9:00AM and on through the day:mad: In fact nothing the Developer does is spontaneous but carefully planned out

[Bogie Shooter]

The same thing will happen to the gators, folks stop and look at (some are seen throwing food over the fences). The gators will lose their fear of humans and start looking for a hand out. The trappers will be called in and the first thing they will do is put a bullet in the gators head. And then, woe is me why did the developer have the gators removed. We really do have some stupid nieghbors.

[rubicon]

We had a gator in our pond approx 10 feet. It is my understanding after a gator reaches approx 6 feet they are removed. In our situation the trapper lured him to shore and shot him/her. No one was feeding this gator. After the gator was removed from the pond, the pond was drained and the Developer built a house on it.:D Naw:smiley: