Feeding the turtles @ LSL

[BobnBev]

I was recently feeding the turtles and some lady told me it was against the law.
She said spotters come and give you a ticket or a fine.

I see the signs that say don't feed the alligators, and no fishing.

Was she mis-informed or what?

[ilovetv]

Let the wildlife be wildlife.

And nobody should be setting an example for kids to feed wildlife and to lean over the rope fencing there on the boardwalk. Gators can jump as high as their length minus one foot, and we saw one jump up toward gawkers with little toddlers there the other day. Thank goodness grandpa had the sense to keep the kids back, because their dad surely didn't seemed fazed.

One of these days an alligator is going to jump up and snatch somebody's hand or arm, or pull the adult-size fool or unknowing child into the water to drown them for later consumption.

It's not a petting zoo there.

[billethkid]

the buffalo are gone because of folks tampering with the wild life here in TV.

DO NOT FEED THE ANIMALS!!!!!!!!!!!

btk

[bkcunningham1]

I was recently feeding the turtles and some lady told me it was against the law.
She said spotters come and give you a ticket or a fine.

I see the signs that say don't feed the alligators, and no fishing.

Was she mis-informed or what?

I've never heard that before. It is amazing to watch those turtles come in to be fed. We feed them all the time and we do it with my 4 year old granddaughter when she's with us. We also feed the ducks at the ponds and other birds.

If they remove the animals that people tamper with, please come to my house and feed the squirrels. I'll pay you.

[DonH57]

I would think feeding the turtles may attract the alligators depending on how many people are on the dock.

[eremite06]

Let the wildlife be wildlife.

And nobody should be setting an example for kids to feed wildlife and to lean over the rope fencing there on the boardwalk. Gators can jump as high as their length minus one foot, and we saw one jump up toward gawkers with little toddlers there the other day. Thank goodness grandpa had the sense to keep the kids back, because their dad surely didn't seemed fazed.

One of these days an alligator is going to jump up and snatch somebody's hand or arm, or pull the adult-size fool or unknowing child into the water to drown them for later consumption.

It's not a petting zoo there.


:agree:

[duffysmom]

Let the wildlife be wildlife.

And nobody should be setting an example for kids to feed wildlife and to lean over the rope fencing there on the boardwalk. Gators can jump as high as their length minus one foot, and we saw one jump up toward gawkers with little toddlers there the other day. Thank goodness grandpa had the sense to keep the kids back, because their dad surely didn't seemed fazed.

One of these days an alligator is going to jump up and snatch somebody's hand or arm, or pull the adult-size fool or unknowing child into the water to drown them for later consumption.

It's not a petting zoo there.

ilovetv, i just love you for saying what I've been saying for a long time.
Don't feed the wildlife. I cannot stand to watch people feeding the gators and turtles knowing that they are signing their death warrants. They get too friendly and familiar with people and :boom: the're taken out and killed.

This is a minor example but I thought it would be nice to feed the birds, WRONG, it attracted a hawk who proceeded to eat the song birds as well as the slow but friendly mourning doves right in front of me. So sad...

My neighbor got head butted by a Buffalo; he was feeding it a carrot and leaning over the railing when the critter raised his head and Bam, no more Buffalo.

We need to learn to coexist with the abundant wildlife that surround us.
They are not here for our amusement.

[vorage]

I was recently feeding the turtles and some lady told me it was against the law.
She said spotters come and give you a ticket or a fine.

I see the signs that say don't feed the alligators, and no fishing.

Was she mis-informed or what?

The best practice concerning any of Florida's wildlife is to enjoy viewing them, but let them find their food naturally.

[Uptown Girl]

The best practice concerning any of Florida's wildlife is to enjoy viewing them, but let them find their food naturally.

Absolutely.

[rubicon]

I am glad Mrs. Rubicon doesn't visit TOTV because after reading this thread she would probably stop feeding me and then I would have to go to all those restaurants that villagers love to hate.:D

[blueash]

To answer the OP there is no regulation that I can find that regulates or prohibits the feeding of Florida softshell turtles.

The feeding of alligators is of course prohibited.

[Carl in Tampa]

The best practice concerning any of Florida's wildlife is to enjoy viewing them, but let them find their food naturally.

There are millions of Americans who disagree with your view. They have bird feeders and bird houses in their yards to attract birds, and particular plantings, such as butterfly bushes, to attract and promote the breeding of butterflies. Other plants and bushes attract honey bees and hummingbirds.

You might also be surprised to learn that commercially produced bat houses, for the attraction of bats, are available. And of course the specialized purple martin houses are great for attracting that very special bird.

Like many of my neighbors I have had bird feeders and bird houses in my yard for over 30 years. In that time only one mourning dove was lost to a predator -- a hawk. The sighting of the hawk in my yard was rare because the tree pattern works against a swooping dive on prey.

I also hang suet blocks and successfully attract woodpeckers.

I built and hung a large bird house designed to attract screech owls after hearing one calling in my back yard at night. He did not nest in it but later it became the home of a feral honey bee hive. The bees were there for years.

Of course the bird feed that fell to the ground attracted squirrels. No problem; I enjoy watching their antics too. The bird feeders themselves are squirrel resistant.

Having song birds in my back yard in the evenings contributes to my contentment and peace of mind.

:thumbup:

[duffysmom]

I belive turtles are what the gators eat among other things of course.

[bkcunningham1]

I belive turtles are what the gators eat among other things of course.

If the gators in the lake at Sumter Landing are eating turtles, there must be 500 zillion turtles in that lake. When you throw one crumb in the waters, you can see turtles coming from across the lake. There are hundreds and hundreds that come to be fed. You could walk across the water on the turtles backs. It is amazing to watch the turtles in that manmade lake.

[jdsl1998]

I never really thought about people feeding the turtles. We see people doing it when we walk the boardwalk. I can understand why people think it is ok. I can now understand why it is not ok. But until there is a sign asking folks not to feed them, when there is a don't feed the alligators sign, it will continue. I don't think folks are purposely disturbing nature. I TRUELY believe, it there is a sign in the future, most folks will abide by the rules.

[duffysmom]

Carl in Tampa, I admire you for creating such a beautiful enviornment for the birds, etc., it sounds ideal. The point I was trying to make (ineffectively) is that some people do not think through the consequences of feeding wild animals When I vacationed in Cape Cod my landlord rescued a Pelican who became very friendly and would approach people; he approached the wrong man who became frightend and he was killed. I do believe in feeding feral cats because I believe they were domesticated animals that were abandoned now need our help to survive. We have a very large hawk who hunts in my backyard and loves to eat the slow moving mourning doves; he is a magnificent creature and a fierce hunter but it's hard to watch so I no longer provide his meals.
Besides, the white bread I see people feeding the gators isn't good for anyone.:)

[NotGolfer]

An occurance of feeding the critters up north could be compared to this. I remember 30-some years ago seeing just a few (handful really) of ducks on the lakes. Not many, just a few! They had their chicks and that was so cute to watch. Folks began to feed these birds. Fast forward to the present. These same lakes have the birds all year around. Folks go and feed them in the winter as well, as they're feeling sorry for them. The bird p*&p is abundant...and slippery and disgusting. You can't walk in the parks because of it. Now towns have ordances against feeding the animals (birds in this case).

Here in Florida, the natives know that gators aren't to be triveled with. They're preditors! I've seen folks feeding them at the board-walk at LSL...NOT a good idea. I've seen folks trying to walk close to them (as they sun along the banks of water) to take a "good" picture of them. People just don't think sometimes! As 'some' say on here, "you can't fix stupid!"

[Mikeod]

Carl in Tampa, I admire you for creating such a beautiful enviornment for the birds, etc., it sounds ideal. The point I was trying to make (ineffectively) is that some people do not think through the consequences of feeding wild animals When I vacationed in Cape Cod my landlord rescued a Pelican who became very friendly and would approach people; he approached the wrong man who became frightend and he was killed. I do believe in feeding feral cats because I believe they were domesticated animals that were abandoned now need our help to survive. We have a very large hawk who hunts in my backyard and loves to eat the slow moving mourning doves; he is a magnificent creature and a fierce hunter but it's hard to watch so I no longer provide his meals.
Besides, the white bread I see people feeding the gators isn't good for anyone.:)

That is the main point. People like Carl in Tampa feed wildlife substances similar to what they might obtain through their own actions. People who feed them "human food" scraps may be doing more harm than good.

Another point. We had a neighbor that was feeding the cranes from her lanai. The birds got so accustomed to their being food there that they started looking into other lanais and pecking through the screening to get what appeared to be food. So many screen panels had to be replaced. And it is not good for a wild creature to be encouraged to lose their natural wariness of humans.

[BobnBev]

Let the wildlife be wildlife.

And nobody should be setting an example for kids to feed wildlife and to lean over the rope fencing there on the boardwalk. Gators can jump as high as their length minus one foot, and we saw one jump up toward gawkers with little toddlers there the other day. Thank goodness grandpa had the sense to keep the kids back, because their dad surely didn't seemed fazed.

One of these days an alligator is going to jump up and snatch somebody's hand or arm, or pull the adult-size fool or unknowing child into the water to drown them for later consumption.

It's not a petting zoo there.

Oh, the drama.......:mmmm::rolleyes::rolleyes::22yikes:

[golf2140]

Must be a slow day in The Villages

[CFrance]

I am glad Mrs. Rubicon doesn't visit TOTV because after reading this thread she would probably stop feeding me and then I would have to go to all those restaurants that villagers love to hate.:D

rubicon, are you a turtle? Gator? Goose, duck, squirrel, dove, hummingbird?

I will set a feeder out for you if Mrs. Rubicon stops. :wave:

[jgbama]

I was recently feeding the turtles and some lady told me it was against the law.
She said spotters come and give you a ticket or a fine.

I see the signs that say don't feed the alligators, and no fishing.

Was she mis-informed or what?

Bet you're sorry for bringing this one up. From reading the replies, I'm reminded of a saying I just saw on Facebook, "I'm smiling not because I'm happy. I'm smiling because I can't believe how much stupid just fell out of your mouth." Most responses are people trying to justify them doing what they shouldn't. Just saying. . .

[CFrance]

There are millions of Americans who disagree with your view. They have bird feeders and bird houses in their yards to attract birds, and particular plantings, such as butterfly bushes, to attract and promote the breeding of butterflies. Other plants and bushes attract honey bees and hummingbirds.

You might also be surprised to learn that commercially produced bat houses, for the attraction of bats, are available. And of course the specialized purple martin houses are great for attracting that very special bird.

Like many of my neighbors I have had bird feeders and bird houses in my yard for over 30 years. In that time only one mourning dove was lost to a predator -- a hawk. The sighting of the hawk in my yard was rare because the tree pattern works against a swooping dive on prey.

I also hang suet blocks and successfully attract woodpeckers.

I built and hung a large bird house designed to attract screech owls after hearing one calling in my back yard at night. He did not nest in it but later it became the home of a feral honey bee hive. The bees were there for years.

Of course the bird feed that fell to the ground attracted squirrels. No problem; I enjoy watching their antics too. The bird feeders themselves are squirrel resistant.

Having song birds in my back yard in the evenings contributes to my contentment and peace of mind.

:thumbup:

I wish we had a "Like" button. I would be hitting it for your post.

[mulligan]

The perceived problem here is that you feed birds by day, and rodents by night. Some people have no tolerance for rats and others.

[travelguy]

please don't feed the turtles. there is plenty of natural food in the water basins, and i cannot believe that processed white bread and complex carbs would be good for them.
and don't feed the gators either.

[Carl in Tampa]

The perceived problem here is that you feed birds by day, and rodents by night. Some people have no tolerance for rats and others.

Actually, we feed rodents by day...... squirrels. They go for the seeds spilled on the ground. Not much left for other rodents at night.

This is Florida. On any given night your yard might be visited by raccoons, possums, skunks, snakes, owls, feral cats, a variety of bugs, and alligators.

In some parts of the state nocturnal visits from deer and bear are a real nuisance.

I'm not personally too troubled by the possibility of rodents in the yard at night. I can understand how people unaccustomed to the close proximity of wildlife might be uncomfortable.

:)

[ilovetv]

Oh, the drama.......:mmmm::rolleyes::rolleyes::22yikes:

Drama?

"Drama" does occur when people get their hand or arm torn off, or a child gets killed by a gator.......

Man who had hand bitten off by gator charged with feeding it* - NY Daily News (http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/man-hand-bitten-gator-charged-feeding-article-1.1124439)

Alligator Bites Off teen's arm in Florida Teen Survives 7/10/2012 - YouTube


Alligator Kills 12-Year-Old Boy In Florida River (http://www.rense.com/general38/allig.htm)

Gator Kills Boy, 10 Father Frees Victim But Can`t Save Him - Sun Sentinel (http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1993-06-20/news/9301190703_1_bradley-weidenhamer-alligator-canoe)

[tag460]

Call Florida Fish & Game for the correct information the number is 352-732-1225

[morancheryl]

Unfortunately, many times the alligators show up when feeding turtles. Then they ecome to familiar with people. I paddle Dragon Boats on LSL and we had a large gator stalking us. When we went to the lighthouse, it went to the light house. When we went to the Waterfont, it went to the Waterfront. This went on for 2 hours. The gator approached our boat too, probably looking for food.

Unfortunately, paddling requires our hands to be in the water. So feeding the turtles, while entertaining, influences gator behavior. My husband walks the dock nearly daily and sees gators there often so it is hard to separate gators from turtles.

[BobnBev]

Unfortunately, many times the alligators show up when feeding turtles. Then they ecome to familiar with people. I paddle Dragon Boats on LSL and we had a large gator stalking us. When we went to the lighthouse, it went to the light house. When we went to the Waterfont, it went to the Waterfront. This went on for 2 hours. The gator approached our boat too, probably looking for food.

Unfortunately, paddling requires our hands to be in the water. So feeding the turtles, while entertaining, influences gator behavior. My husband walks the dock nearly daily and sees gators there often so it is hard to separate gators from turtles.

And when the gator shows up, I stop feeding the turtles, that's a no brainer

[ilovetv]

:popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn:

[duffysmom]

And when the gator shows up, I stop feeding the turtles, that's a no brainer

Unfortunately, many times the alligators show up when feeding turtles. Then they ecome to familiar with people. I paddle Dragon Boats on LSL and we had a large gator stalking us. When we went to the lighthouse, it went to the light house. When we went to the Waterfont, it went to the Waterfront. This went on for 2 hours. The gator approached our boat too, probably looking for food.

Unfortunately, paddling requires our hands to be in the water. So feeding the turtles, while entertaining, influences gator behavior. My husband walks the dock nearly daily and sees gators there often so it is hard to separate gators from turtles.

Morancheryl, that is frightening and some people will never get it. Throwing food into the lake is teaching the gator that people represent food. An aggressive gator who has lost his fear of people is extremely dangerous.