A Story Request for " The Buffalo "

[CarGuys]

I am sure this has been asked many times.

Can the wise mentors on this site spare some time for newbie myself and I am sure others.

Could we hear the story of the Buffalo at the Villages and why they were removed? Were were they kept? How many? Were they always there? Etc

I am always amazed watching them roam free while on several Harley trips out West.

Anxiously waiting for story time! And is there any chance we could get them back?

Herv

[Schaumburger]

I am sure this has been asked many times.

Can the wise mentors on this site spare some time for newbie myself and I am sure others.

Could we hear the story of the Buffalo at the Villages and why they were removed? Were were they kept? How many? Were they always there? Etc

I am always amazed watching them roam free while on several Harley trips out West.

Anxiously waiting for story time! And is there any chance we could get them back?

Herv

Herv, Thank you for posting this. I would also like to know about the buffalo in TV.

[Larry Wilson]

Too late for the whole story.
Truth is the buffalo were used as tax deduction on land before houses were built.
Excuse was given it was for safety but houses were built on their pastures immediately. Everyone tried to stop their removal. One committee offered to pay for all new fencing that would separate people from the buffalo. Mark listened to no one.
His plans were already in action for Creekside villas and they were completed 6 months from date of removal of buffalo. They were sold as a herd and made the developer some money.
Everyone misses them. They were beautiful. They are never coming back as there are houses on their pastures. I could write a book with all the details but I have an early tee time.:D

[CarGuys]

Too late for the whole story.
Truth is the buffalo were used as tax deduction on land before houses were built.
They were sold as a herd and made the developer some money.
Everyone misses them. They were beautiful. They are never coming back as there are houses on their pastures. I could write a book with all the details but I have an early tee time.:D


Wow Mr. Mark gave us a nightmare instead of a happy ending story.

Thanks for the first chapter!


H

[chuckinca]

First time I saw the buffaloes they were in a corral on El Camino Real across the street from the hospital. They were there for at least 3 or 4 years that I know of until they were moved further south to a field on 466. As I recall, the corral was next to a small driving range where you drove the balls into the pond at rafts at various distances. The property is now the medical recovery facility and the Freedom Pointe facility. These were built long after the buffs were moved.


.

[mrfixit]

First time I saw the buffaloes they were in a corral on El Camino Real across the street from the hospital. They were there for at least 3 or 4 years that I know of until they were moved further south to a field on 466. As I recall, the corral was next to a small driving range where you drove the balls into the pond at rafts at various distances. The property is now the medical recovery facility and the Freedom Pointe facility. These were built long after the buffs were moved.
.

The last time they were VIEWABLE they were pastured at the NE corner of BUENA VISTA and OLD MILL RUN. They went bye-bye AFTER someone put a grandchild between a MAMA and a BABY Buffalo.(to get a photo). As should be expected...the MAMA "charged" to protect her BABY.(nature at its best) LAWSUIT followed and that was the end of our Buffalo viewings. The Creekside Villas were planned many moon prior and were NOT the reason for the loss of the Buffalo. Origionally..the Buffalo were going to be displayed further South in The Vilages. Just like they had been moved on at least 2 prior occasions,to accomodate the building schedule. PLEASE don't think for one-minute that it was the fault of the Morse family that we lost the viewings of the Buffalo. I am just grateful for the YEARS we were all able to enjoy this wonderful display.

[jebartle]

You can still see some Buffalo on No.6 (The par 5)

[kb8tpw]

Too bad when imbeciles ruin things for everyone. Saw them our first visit and they were subsequently gone. Sure seems like there had ought to be other solutions, but I understand the liability issue. Other locations have surely solved the issue differently.

The buffalo and eagle are my two favorite wildlife and I understand the sad story of the eagles from my sales rep.

[philnpat]

Too bad when imbeciles ruin things for everyone. Saw them our first visit and they were subsequently gone. Sure seems like there had ought to be other solutions, but I understand the liability issue. Other locations have surely solved the issue differently.

The buffalo and eagle are my two favorite wildlife and I understand the sad story of the eagles from my sales rep.

The sad story of the eagles? Haven't heard anything of this. We did see a pair in Duval circling the pool area. What's the story?

[chuckster]

When the tornado, spawned from a severe thunderstorm, ripped through near cane garden several years ago and on to mallory it also tore through a protected eagle area destroying several nests. I believe some little ones were saved, raised and returned to their former area near allamanda golf course.

The Buffalo as well as cattle at several areas in the villages are there to keep property taxes low (agricultural as opposed to residential acreage) until the land is developed. The family contrary to some negative beliefs pastured buffalo (nice gesture) and not always cattle on these sites moving them as planned development arrived. jmho

[Bogie Shooter]

I observed on many occasion people & kids trying to feed the buffalo, the potential liability was just too much.
We all like to spot a gator now and then on the ponds. I saw a man and his small son climb the fence and walk 20-30 yards to get up close to a gator at the pond near Palmer golf course.
If you feed them they to will be gone......by the trappers with a bullet to the head.
What ever happened to common sense??

[CarGuys]

I observed on many occasion people & kids trying to feed the buffalo, the potential liability was just too much.
We all like to spot a gator now and then on the ponds. I saw a man and his small son climb the fence and walk 20-30 yards to get up close to a gator at the pond near Palmer golf course.
If you feed them they to will be gone......by the trappers with a bullet to the head.
What ever happened to common sense??

The story continues! Seems like many had happy memories of these animals.

We were warned by the Rangers at several parks do not go near them keep your distance and never feed them, I saw fools getting of Motorcycles and Vehicles alike trucking out to get a photo opportunity.

NOT ME!

[ladydoc]

The story continues! Seems like many had happy memories of these animals.

We were warned by the Rangers at several parks do not go near them keep your distance and never feed them, I saw fools getting of Motorcycles and Vehicles alike trucking out to get a photo opportunity.

NOT ME!

'Well, that's one way to eliminate the weak part of the human gene pool......

[jblum315]

We went to see the Elephant Seals at a California beach and the guide warned us not to step in front of them. They don't charge, he said, they will just roll over you like a tank.

[Mikeod]

There also were buffalo in the area along 466 that is now being developed. I can't count how many times I saw people doing stupid things at the fence. Sometimes the buffalo rested in the shade of a tree near the fence. I saw a man with his grandchildren throwing things at the animal trying to get it to come over to the fence. People, as stated above, holding youngsters over the fence with carrots to feed the buffalo. I once stopped and advised a lady to not climb on the fence with food, and she told me to "shut up".

But The Villages is entirely planned out, so areas where the "buffalo roamed" were always intended to be developed. It, IMHO, was the liability issue that ended the original plan to keep moving them as development worked south.

[CarGuys]

[QUOTE=mikeod;381265]I can't count how many times I saw people doing stupid things at the fence. Sometimes the buffalo rested in the shade of a tree near the fence. I saw a man with his grandchildren throwing things at the animal trying to get it to come over to the fence. People, as stated above, holding youngsters over the fence with carrots to feed the buffalo. I once stopped and advised a lady to not climb on the fence with food, and she told me to "shut up".

Well that chapter of " The Story" Put's things in a different perspective, Maybe with people acting the way you described the Herd is in a better place, unless they ended up Buffalo Burgers!

Here in UpState there are many small farms raising Buffalo for it's healthy low fat and high protein.

[Larry Wilson]

Now you're making me really homesick for the buffalo. It was a sad sad day when we lost them. Everyone loved them and we had them for years. Many petitions were signed to try to save them.
Wish you could of seen them. There were never any bulls in the fields and the cows were gentle souls munching away.(Yes, people could still get hurt.) In the Spring, the babies would be born.
I totally agree that people can be stupid around animals.
Yes, we knew the fences weren't safe because people can do stupid things. We offered to pay for a fencing system that would keep the people and the buffalo apart. Mark wouldn't listen to anyone. Chuckster is right. Mike might be right too.
Whatever, it was sure nice having buffalo here and I really enjoyed them for years. I much preferred the green pastures with the buffalo to just looking at more houses like we have today.

[Barefoot]

Now you're making me really homesick for the buffalo. It was a sad sad day when we lost them. Everyone loved them and we had them for years. Many petitions were signed to try to save them.
Wish you could of seen them. There were never any bulls in the fields and the cows were gentle souls munching away.(Yes, people could still get hurt.) In the Spring, the babies would be born.
I totally agree that people can be stupid around animals.
Yes, we knew the fences weren't safe because people can do stupid things. We offered to pay for a fencing system that would keep the people and the buffalo apart. Mark wouldn't listen to anyone. Chuckster is right. Mike might be right too.
Whatever, it was sure nice having buffalo here and I really enjoyed them for years. I much preferred the green pastures with the buffalo to just looking at more houses like we have today.

We are still sad about losing the buffalo. It gave such a nice feeling to the open fields to see the majestic animals with their babies. But we always knew they were occupying expensive land, and that the Developer would eventually build on it.

[batman911]

I sure hope they are not hanging on a wall in a cabin in Montana:22yikes: It is a crime and a shame what some idiots will do to beautiful animals just for the thrill.

[LivingLarge]

I doubt if they were ever really going to be considered permanent regardless of any run-ins with people - real or imagined.

Larry said it best - "Truth is the buffalo were used as tax deduction on land before houses were built"

That is the story I've been told and it sounds reasonable. The old 'best use of land' scenario.

[bike42]

[QUOTE="Truth is the buffalo were used as tax deduction on land before houses were built" That is the story I've been told and it sounds reasonable. The old 'best use of land' scenario.[/QUOTE]

Sorry, this bit of developer-bashing just doesn't wash. Cows work just as well as buffalo to get the Agricultural classification for tax benefits prior to the planned development -- and all of the undeveloped lands have cows to accomplish this. Look around south of 466A.

The buffalo are still here, just kept in an area that has no public access whatsoever. Use Google Earth and fly around to see them.

[Larry Wilson]

bike42,
First, those pictures are years OLD, back in the good old days. The Buffalo are gone.
Second, Many developments use mascots and the Buffaloes were our mascots. A decision could of been made to save some pasture and keep some of our mascots on view.
Third, been around cattle all my life and cattle can hurt people too.
Fourth, I still say a bad decision. Maybe a good decision for making money but not for the aesthetics of The Villages. When that many residents begged to save them, I think some should of been saved. The Buffalo brought a great deal of pleasure to many and many were disappointed when they were taken away.

Fifth, Its great here but it not all sunshine and perfect. The longer you live here full time, the more you see changes that don't always favor the residents.

[graciegirl]

Sorry, this bit of developer-bashing just doesn't wash. Cows work just as well as buffalo to get the Agricultural classification for tax benefits prior to the planned development -- and all of the undeveloped lands have cows to accomplish this. Look around south of 466A.

The buffalo are still here, just kept in an area that has no public access whatsoever. Use Google Earth and fly around to see them.

I enjoy hearing what veteran residents like Bike 42 have to say and I know for a fact that bike knows whereof she speaks.

It is debatable whether a herd of buffalo is a draw to an area. I know it is debatable because it certainly has been debated.....AND debated.

I am one who has never felt the inclination to find a buffalo and watch it hang out.

I have mild interest in cows.

If we all felt the same way about things; buffalo, politics, religion, ice cream, it would be SO boring.

I know that some people on here can be mistaken. I met someone only recently who was under the impression that she had sweeter grandchildren than we do.

[bike42]

(Quote from Larry Wilson) "First, those pictures are years OLD, back in the good old days. The Buffalo are gone."

Sorry, but you are wrong. I saw the buffalo in person a few weeks ago.

[Larry Wilson]

Oh I just love to be told I am wrong. I see the buffalo every time I golf Amberwood!!!! They are not on Village property.
As a matter of fact there are quite a few buffalo farms around here. I'm off to a club so no flame with me. I have much better things to do here. As a matter of fact, there are so many great things to do here that I don't want to waste my time arguing with you or anyone else.

[bike42]

Oh I just love to be told I am wrong. I see the buffalo every time I golf Amberwood!!!! They are not on Village property.
As a matter of fact there are quite a few buffalo farms around here. I'm off to a club so no flame with me. I have much better things to do here. As a matter of fact, there are so many great things to do here that I don't want to waste my time arguing with you or anyone else.

Sorry, Larry, I certainly don't mean to offend you. I just want people to know they are not hamburger.

[Larry Wilson]

Thanks. You're fine. I just gotta go. Get out and have some fun.

[Barefoot]

[QUOTE=Larry Wilson;

Many developments use mascots and the Buffaloes were our mascots. A decision could of been made to save some pasture and keep some of our mascots on. I still say a bad decision. Maybe a good decision for making money but not for the aesthetics of The Villages. When that many residents begged to save them, I think some should of been saved. The Buffalo brought a great deal of pleasure to many and many were disappointed when they were taken away.
-------------------------------


:agree:

[cybermuda]

The latest GoogleEarth photos of De La Vista were taken in January of this year, but not sure if the whole area was "renewed" then.

Also included are photos going back to 1994 - interesting to see what the place looked like before any development, then with a few houses completed.

[Larry Wilson]

Yes, good pics. I meant the buffalo pics were old.

Sorry to hijack but the full moon is just beautiful tonight.

[cybermuda]

lovely - we saw it setting yesterday morning - deep red and looked huge

the rain must have cleared the air of dust