owls,coyotes,alligators?
 

In Missouri we have to be careful at dusk and night time to keep small pets safe from owls and coyotes. I was wondering if you have them in that part of Florida and if alligators wander into yards as well?

Thanks

My neighbor says when she lived in Lakeland right on a lake, that a gator was on her patio one morning. In The Villages, I've seen some gators in the Lake Sumter area sunning near the water.

I don't think they'll go far into a community, but if you're on water and unfenced, I'd take close watch of the pets and yourselves.

If a gator chases you, run in a zig-zag, they have trouble making turns.
You can't outrun 'em, they're as fast as racehorses.

Plan B is to trip your spouse and keep running LOLOLOLOL

Oh no!
 

I personally have not seen Owls or Alligators or other predators of small animals in The Villages, except for a small Alligator sunning himself on a little island and he/she was visible from Morse Boulevard as I zoomed by.

But...you should be warned about a handsome and very witty poster on here named Fumar the Magnificent, who SAYS he isn't fond of dogs.:undecided:

We have all three in TV. I see alligators almost everyday when golfing, nearly every (if not all) ponds have at least one gator in them. Played Heron last week and there was one on the bank by the tee box that was at least 8 feet long and another 6 footer on the bank on the other side of the pond. I have also seen coyotes in TV, saw one running through the Churchill golf course the other day. Although I don't think they would attack unless cornered or provoked, I would say yes, keep an eye out.............gn

Also, foxes have been sighted in the Mulberry area. I saw one on Walnut Grove but that was a while ago so I am not sure if they got rid of them or not.

We have seen several large Horned Owls in the oak trees behind our house and our neighbor saw a Florida Panther on the fence that borders the farm behind our homes. (lucky her I would love to see one) I have very large dogs so I don't worry about anything carrrying them off but my neighbor keeps a close eye on her Schnauzer! :shocked:

Because we back on a golf course, I am always vigilant about keeping my two dogs safe.

There are many predators (including Fumar) here in TV. :22yikes:

I have also spotted Hawks,Eagles,Alligators and Bobcats.
If you have a small pet.............they will look at it as lunch......be with them when they are out.
I have seen the Hawks grab squirrels and a Bunny!

Saw that Gator at Herron last week while playing, it is HUGE!

Army Guy

Yes, they are fast, but they tire quickly. If you can stay ahead of them for the first 50 yards, you're pretty much home free (I know I've been chased when I was a young one). They can't climb trees worth a darn either. :thumbup:

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

Gators LOVE small dogs.

Too, too funny. :a20:

Hijack alert - Sorry but I can't help it - running from a gator reminds me of one of my favorite stories:

Two guys are out in the woods hiking. All of a sudden, a bear starts chasing them. The first guy gets his sneakers out of his knapsack and starts putting them on. The second guy says, "What are you doing? Are you crazy? You can't outrun a bear"! The first guy says, "I don't have to outrun the bear. I only have to outrun you."

The only owls I've seen are the 140 or so who congregate in my house! I collect owl figurines and images.

Haven't seen any coyotes, either, but have heard that they're out there almost from the first day I came to TV, five years ago!

Were I to have a small dog who I let run on his/her own I'd worry constantly about eagles and a few other large predators who would view small four-legged creatures as a snack!

As it is, my Cat may attract attention, but she can't go beyond our screened lanai!

SWR
:beer3:

I have been told that there are wild pigs in the area but I have yet to spot one.

I have often seen hawks circling above the large open fields at the dog park (DDRR). They're probably looking for rodents and rabbits.

Even though dogs run and play leash free, I am always careful with Biggins, my ten lb wonderdog.

Wow, sounds like all sorts of animals could be a threat. Here as long as I let my big dog out with little Bear, and it is day time we are safe. But, I have a 6 ft. wood fence. I have flood lights I turn on at night.

It seems like an electronic fence would be useless for them, as any critter could come in and they couldn't get out. I just can't imagine taking my dogs for walks at the odd hours they need to go out. I can barely get the motivation to make coffee at that hour.

I know there are a ton of people with tiny dogs at TV. Any suggestions?

Thanks!

Bobcat
 

I heard a bobcat near our home Monday night.

Obviously, you would be helping us more by mentioning where your home is located.

Just thought that Marjorie would like to see what Fumar looks like in case they cross paths!

http://www.londonderrynh.net/wp-cont..._dog_chase.jpg

I live in Caroline and we have beasties around here. A couple of years ago one of our neighbors on our street had a gator sunning at her front door. At the time, she was a snowbird and others saw the reptile. The house does back to a water/marsh area. Another neighbor has seen a bobcat in the neighborhood. There are hawks and one decided that the bunny that hangs out in my yard was going to be lunch. The hawk chased the rabbit and when the bunny hid in a planting area, the bird just sat on the fence and waited. Rabbit came out, hawk started chasing. Of course, there are feral cats around, too, as well as rats, snakes. Probably just as many "hunters" where we've all come from, just some different kinds here.

:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

Thanks Skyguy, you are hilarious!

I'm pretty sure I saw a couple at the Cattle Baron salad bar. Whew, scary sight!

There is a nest of great horned owls in the large tree behind Altamont Villas and an alligator that has been photographed behind the homes on the golf course on Markridge Loop.

Last month I asked my salesman how come I never see any trash cans and he said they only put the trash bags out. I told him here in Maryland if I did that, the racoons, possums and foxes would have my garbage torn to pieces. He said they don't have a problem with wildlife other than gators and snakes, which you can usually avoid.

OK...two questions: 1-what is a Florida Panther? 2)what is the snake population like in The Villages?:confused:

Here's a Florida Panther....http://www.flheritage.com/images/fac...ls/panther.jpg

Here you can read a bit about our state animal.... http://www.flheritage.com/facts/symbols/symbol.cfm?id=6


As for snakes, they're around, but you might not see them. When my house was being painted last spring, the painter found two snakes hiding in the bushes near the house. He picked them up with his paint pole and relocated them to the plantings behind my back yard.
Personally, I've see a couple of deceased black snakes, but neighbors have found a venomous snake in their garage. They back to a water/marsh feature. My mother in law had two little garter type snakes in her lanai. Not sure if it's any worse than where I lived before in southern CA. HOWEVER, in Florida there's a saying, never put your hand where your eyes can't see.

Remember, snakes are an important part of the ecosystem here in The Villages. They'll probably move away from you faster than you, away from them... ;)

WOW! I am glad to know that my future home state has such a beautiful creature as State Animal! The face reminds me our cat ET. She is rather large since her daddy was a Maine Coon cat. She too can be scary looking, but she doesn't have a clue.

Wild pigs spotted!
 

Bluedog, you are a hooooot!....Also spotted at Golden Corral!...tee hee!

Big John
 

The huge Gator at Heron is called Big John. The staff says that usually when Big John is around the others leave the building. It sounds like not always. I saw a fox coming from the unconstructed area North of 466A, near Colony. It was coming close to the street. There have been emails going around about the Gator that strolled across the fairway at Redfish, and the one that sat at the foot of the stoop at a home in Bonnybrook. Redfish has water but I am not sure about Bonnybrook. It is mating season and you know how those guys get during this season!

they saw an almost extinct reclusive florida panther? :wine::wine:

alligator near Morse bridge
 

Has that large alligator who sunned frequently near the Morse bridge been removed? The first time I saw it (not knowing what it was) I thought it was an old tire laying in the grass....until I was better informed.

Yes she did, lucky lady. I think she may have needed the wine after seeing the panther.

My family has lived in Florida since the early 1900's and very few members have ever seen a Florida Panther. We used to live south of Green Cove Springs, a little town about 25 miles south of Jacksonville and we saw many wild animals including wild hogs,black bears,gators and of course snakes, but never a Florida Panther.

Don't they "relocate" gators when they find them? I would think for safety sake that they would...or am I being naive?

You are correct and then they either take them to the VILLAGE OF HADLEY or have them euthanized , which ever is more severe...........

relocating fumar..................:jester:

There's an ".....or both!" line in there somewhere, I'd guess - - - - - but I am NOT going to touch it!!! :1rotfl: :1rotfl: :1rotfl:

Bill :wave: