Goodbye to my gator

[blueash]

I live on a lake where for many months we have watched an alligator swim by daily and do his alligator things. He has harmed no one including the golfers on the other side of the lake. But he is a big gator, about eight feet. Today a black truck comes with three young men and a permit and gear to "remove" the gator because of a complaint. They are licensed to do this by the state of Florida. It turns out that a person who is here only a few weeks a year maintaining his deceased parent's home requested this removal because he is worried about his four dogs which he lets out without being leashed might be attacked by the gator. While we won't get into the he shouldn't have four dogs, nor should they be outside unleashed, nor should his sister in law be staying there for three months, etc... It seems there might have been some mechanism to have the state authorities ask the other neighbors about their desire to have the gator stay or go. And for them to ascertain the actual risk to the dog(s) if the person would not let them out unleashed. After all this is a house on a lake in Florida where gators can be expected to be part of the environment.
So they baited a line, attached to a float, and played gator mating music over a speaker and left and over one hour after the gator had been caught and was struggling they returned to the lake to find the gator stuck on the line, then removed the animal. Consider this an open invitation to any gator looking for a new home.

[ssmith]

...I can tell that you loved watching that gator! Maybe one of his friends will move in !

[ceejay]

That really stinks...:(

[angiefox10]

Mating music???? Should I ask???? :D

[TOTV Team]

Mating music???? Should I ask???? :D


:1rotfl:

[Bogie Shooter]

On what lake? Was it in TV?

[golf2140]

I live on a lake where for many months we have watched an alligator swim by daily and do his alligator things. He has harmed no one including the golfers on the other side of the lake. But he is a big gator, about eight feet. Today a black truck comes with three young men and a permit and gear to "remove" the gator because of a complaint. They are licensed to do this by the state of Florida. It turns out that a person who is here only a few weeks a year maintaining his deceased parent's home requested this removal because he is worried about his four dogs which he lets out without being leashed might be attacked by the gator. While we won't get into the he shouldn't have four dogs, nor should they be outside unleashed, nor should his sister in law be staying there for three months, etc... It seems there might have been some mechanism to have the state authorities ask the other neighbors about their desire to have the gator stay or go. And for them to ascertain the actual risk to the dog(s) if the person would not let them out unleashed. After all this is a house on a lake in Florida where gators can be expected to be part of the environment.
So they baited a line, attached to a float, and played gator mating music over a speaker and left and over one hour after the gator had been caught and was struggling they returned to the lake to find the gator stuck on the line, then removed the animal. Consider this an open invitation to any gator looking for a new home.

Same thing happened to the Buffalo. Grandad leans over the fence with grand-daughter. Buffalo bumps grand-daughter. Pop sues. We loose our friends because of a suit. :cryin2:

[kb8tpw]

Another case of the imbeciles ruling - sick.......

[hedoman]

Mating Music?

Sinatra? Miles Davis? Barry White? Crocodile Rock?

Do they remove bad neighbors too?

:highfive::highfive::highfive::highfive::highfive:

[blueash]

The music was an auditory montage of charming grunts and snorts. I'm sure it sounded better to the gator. Yes this was here in TV, a lake on the Mallory golf course. I've always wondered if the Bison left because of litigation, or the opportunity to develop the land into high profit housing was too much to ignore.

[skyguy79]

Hopefully if was a happy ending for the gator!
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e303/MySpotToo/LaterGator.gif

[joannej]

Part of enjoying TV is enjoying the nature that's here too. I wonder how that man would feel if someone reported his 4 dogs running loose around the lake? Somehow common sense should prevail. I can tell that you are missing "friend".

[Dennis Ga]

Now that the Big Fellow has been taken away, maybe 2 or 3 little ones will take his place as they would not hsve been welcomed into his home.

[joannej]

Would the owner of the dogs report the little gators too? Sad to say.

[JAV0108]

I have heard that once a gator reaches 8 feet in any Villages water ways, they get transported to new digs. That is just something I have heard I don't know if it is true.

[mulligan]

unfortunately, sky, any nuisance gator over 4' must be destroyed by state law. under 4' they can be relocated.

[gerryann]

Unfortunately, he will be destroyed as mulligan stated. I could understand if he was attacking...but he sounded content to just hang around. It takes all kinds, doesn't it? Sad. :sad:

[Pturner]

See you later, Alligator. :cryin2:

[jojo]

We've had a gator in the retention pond behind us on the 6th hole of Amelia. Haven't seen it for a couple days. Does anyone know from which pond they removed it? It seemed to move between ponds - we assume through the drainage pipes.

[skyguy79]

unfortunately, sky, any nuisance gator over 4' must be destroyed by state law. under 4' they can be relocated.That's sad! :cry: Are the Everglades that overcrowded with alligators that they couldn't relocated the good ol' boys or did the square miles of the Everglades shrink that much when the law was passed? I know those questions are probably retorical, but I just had to state them anyway! :(

[robertj1954]

For decades the "noseeum" were the biggest nuisance in Florida. Today, it appears the "nothinkums" have taken over the number 1 spot!

[CMANN]

I live on a lake where for many months we have watched an alligator swim by daily and do his alligator things. He has harmed no one including the golfers on the other side of the lake. But he is a big gator, about eight feet. Today a black truck comes with three young men and a permit and gear to "remove" the gator because of a complaint. They are licensed to do this by the state of Florida. It turns out that a person who is here only a few weeks a year maintaining his deceased parent's home requested this removal because he is worried about his four dogs which he lets out without being leashed might be attacked by the gator. While we won't get into the he shouldn't have four dogs, nor should they be outside unleashed, nor should his sister in law be staying there for three months, etc... It seems there might have been some mechanism to have the state authorities ask the other neighbors about their desire to have the gator stay or go. And for them to ascertain the actual risk to the dog(s) if the person would not let them out unleashed. After all this is a house on a lake in Florida where gators can be expected to be part of the environment.
So they baited a line, attached to a float, and played gator mating music over a speaker and left and over one hour after the gator had been caught and was struggling they returned to the lake to find the gator stuck on the line, then removed the animal. Consider this an open invitation to any gator looking for a new home.

Do you understand that your gator would eat your grand-children, given the least opportunity?

[Bosoxfan]

:popcorn:Barry White...lol

[wlake23]

I really can't believe what I just saw from my lanai. We live on a pond in Duval and I just watched three men catch "our" gator, then proceed to shoot it in the head. I saw them do it! The gator was in it's natural habitat and if anybody complained, I'm not sure what grounds they had. We've been here for four years (with our dog) and have never encountered any dangerous situations involving "our" gator. What possible reason could there be to kill an "innocent" animal?

[The Villager II]

I really can't believe what I just saw from my lanai. We live on a pond in Duval and I just watched three men catch "our" gator, then proceed to shoot it in the head. I saw them do it! The gator was in it's natural habitat and if anybody complained, I'm not sure what grounds they had. We've been here for four years (with our dog) and have never encountered any dangerous situations involving "our" gator. What possible reason could there be to kill an "innocent" animal?

Human Paranoia.

[red tail]

Do you understand that your gator would eat your grand-children, given the least opportunity?

you have been watching tooooooo much natl geo.............

[KittyKat]

I really can't believe what I just saw from my lanai. We live on a pond in Duval and I just watched three men catch "our" gator, then proceed to shoot it in the head. I saw them do it! The gator was in it's natural habitat and if anybody complained, I'm not sure what grounds they had. We've been here for four years (with our dog) and have never encountered any dangerous situations involving "our" gator. What possible reason could there be to kill an "innocent" animal?

So sorry, that must have been horrible to watch.

[PPreu]

The 'gator hunters are licensed by the state. They perform their duties for free, which is to say "almost free". For the performance of their duties, these trappers get to keep the spoils, in the form of gator heads, hides, and meat. (After all, the "gator nuggets" served up in local restaurants come from someplace, right?)

The removal of gators is restricted to "nuisance" gators, based on a complaint. For once size DOESNT matter.

As for nuisance neighbors, well I happen to know a gator who works for meals.!!!

Personally, I enjoy the occasional alligator, remembering that they were here first. But then again, so was the American Indian. Ok, back on point...

[Larry Wilson]

A very friendly gator at Sumter Landing had to be relocated (to someones freezer).
Problem was people kept feeding the turtles, fish and then the gator got in on the food.
The boat and grounds people kept driving it away hoping it would not be shot. Once you throw food to an animal, it will beg for more so Mr or Mrs. Gator kept coming back. Please don't feed the wild animals and let them remain wild. We all miss that gator.

[Mickedamouse24]

:ohdear:You can hang as many signs as you wish proclaiming "do not feed the alligators!"....but humans, being humans....will ignore that fact and ultimately sign the gators death warrant. What part of "wild animal!" do some folks not understand. Admire or wonder about them but let them live in peace....!!! Having said that, it's really hard to fix stupid in some people....!!!

[duffysmom]

:ohdear:You can hang as many signs as you wish proclaiming "do not feed the alligators!"....but humans, being humans....will ignore that fact and ultimately sign the gators death warrant. What part of "wild animal!" do some folks not understand. Admire or wonder about them but let them live in peace....!!! Having said that, it's really hard to fix stupid in some people....!!!

Amen..:clap2:

[GoldenMan]

aw poor gator :shrug:

[Mintjulep]

Blueash, you must be my neighbor. One of my friends who watched the guys capture and kill the gator said they used a raw chicken with a spring in it, then when the gator ate the chicken, the spring opened and wouldn't allow the gators mouth to close. Then they tied it's front and back legs behind it's back, hung it by a hook and shot it. My friend said the gator really suffered. Horrible!!!
Another of our neighbors have talked to the people with the dogs that complained, and made it clear that they need to check with other neighbors before complaining again about something that affects others enjoyment or there may be complaints made about their 4 dogs that run loose.

I hear that a new gator is now inhabiting the lake...

[redwitch]

Hooray for the neighbors who put the idiot in his place! Shame they couldn't have done it before an innocent creature was killed.

I hate TV's policy that gators of a certain size are automatically to be eliminated. Why not remove them at 7 feet and move them to a new, safe(r) locale rather than wait until they're killing size? Cheaper??

I'm not a gator fan -- they give me the willies and, to me, they are one of the ugliest critters on this great planet. However, they're willing to share the land with us, why aren't we willing to share it with them? I really hate that some people feel they have a right to dictate for anyone and anything. (I think I have too many soapboxes but critters deserve better than we give 'em.)

[paulandjean]

I am no Gator fan. I do not see the problem of removing then from the ponds. I prefer that there are no gators here. As far as the people with 4 dogs, I do not think they are of the same menace as gator ...[/I]

[rubicon]

I have my hands in front of me palms up and moving them up and down in a scale like manner....and I am repeating gator, guy with 4 dogs, gator, guy with 4 dogs.......Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

[GeorgeT]

Blueash, you must be my neighbor. One of my friends who watched the guys capture and kill the gator said they used a raw chicken with a spring in it, then when the gator ate the chicken, the spring opened and wouldn't allow the gators mouth to close. Then they tied it's front and back legs behind it's back, hung it by a hook and shot it. My friend said the gator really suffered. Horrible!!!
Another of our neighbors have talked to the people with the dogs that complained, and made it clear that they need to check with other neighbors before complaining again about something that affects others enjoyment or there may be complaints made about their 4 dogs that run loose.

I hear that a new gator is now inhabiting the lake...

Ever see how they kill a cow or a chicken or a goat or a pig? I like to see gators in the ponds and lakes and I like to eat them too (tastes like chicken) So what's the big deal? He got big, was perceived as a threat and was killed, happens all the time. Like another poster said he would kill and eat you if he had the chance.

[collie1228]

I'm a lifetime hunter, fisherman and general outdoors person and I have no problem with the death of an animal that could be a menace to the local human residents. The problem in my mind wasn't the killing of the gator, it was the lack of respect by the gator cops when they killed it in front of residents. A humane death in a private place would have been appropriate. If I were a resident who witnessed this outrage, I would be complaining to the powers that be in TV. If they handled the killing of this gator as described, the gator cops aren't all that smart (or neighborly).

[rabonkmontage@msn.com]

Yes they should be reported!

[Larry Wilson]

Live near a lake here for 7 years. Two big gators have been removed from the lake that I know about. No one knew it was happening until you see a big gator in the back of the pick-up. Told gator was being relocated. Big tail was still flipping.
I talked to trapper and he said they try to keep it away from view. Also said they say "relocated" to keep residents from getting upset. Even though Mr. Gator was gone his tail would flip from muscles contracting.
Trapper said they are breeding and multiplying so fast that some need to be removed for the health of all,including the gator population.

[mrfixit]

I hate TV's policy that gators of a certain size are automatically to be eliminated.
)

I do NOT believe the policy was set by "The Villages".......I was told it was a FWC policy. I may be way off on that....but ....hearsay is ..........

[JenAjd]

Thought of this thread after hearing in the news early this morning about an elderly woman down near St. Pete (I think) who was walking near a pond and a gator "flew" out quickly and attacked her. A passerby was able to save her but the gator got her leg. NOT good!!! People can think they're harmless, but they are not! That's why the warnings to golfers (and others) about not going near the ponds. I for one think it was fine that that gator was seized. Perhaps his demise could have been taken elsewhere. They're the wild animals who have had us invade their environment...for the most part.

[mulligan]

A gator 4' or over is quite likely to return to the area it is removed from,wreaking all sorts of havoc along the way. That's why the state mandates gators over 4' be destroyed when they become a nusiance ( lose their fear of humans).

[Chopper]

Thought you might find this presentation of interest.

http://myfwc.com/media/310218/Alligator_Living_with_alligators_ppt.pdf

[paulandjean]

"Funny", Yesterday it was poor gators. This morning news about the women and dog attacked,a different story. This was bad yesterday, "Hooray the neighbors who put this idiot in his place.Now who has egg on their face. That guy may have saved someones life here.

[graciegirl]

I think that hearing about the elderly Florida woman who lost part of her leg to an alligator yesterday is frightening.