[graciegirl]

Alligator attack: Florida teenager loses part of arm - U.S. News

This supports the thread started by Ilovetv a week or so ago about the visiting grandchildren who were not being watched and leaning over the railing at LSL.

[2BNTV]

How sad for the teenager. I hope he adjusts well from this traumatic experience.

[justjim]

About 8 or 9 years ago just east of Leesburg on US 441 where the highway passes over the Dead River Canal, a young boy was eaten by an Alligator. He was visiting his grandparents. I can't imagine anything more horrible or tragic. To say they are dangerous is an understatement.

[Taltarzac725]

Southeastern Outdoors - Fatal Alligator Attacks

Not sure how they could keep people safe on the Lake Sumter Landing boardwalk without just getting rid of the alligators. They move around from wetlands to lakes and back too.

[BritParrothead]

Poor lad. But we must Never forget, the alligators were here first.

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by Taltarzac725

Southeastern Outdoors - Fatal Alligator Attacks

Not sure how they could keep people safe on the Lake Sumter Landing boardwalk without just getting rid of the alligators. They move around from wetlands to lakes and back too.

You are safe on the boardwalk. Same old story kids do stupid things, if stupid parents don't watch their children then things happen. Like falling over the rail................

[ilovetv]

I started the other thread because the kids told me, when I told them to be careful not to lean over the ropes or reach down toward the water, that they didn't have to worry about the gators because some "adult" had told them "it's just a MECHANICAL alligator". Taltarzac verified seeing this stupid "adult" saying this to them.

Some "adults" here pooh-poohed the warning. Disgraceful.

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by ilovetv

I started the other thread because the kids told me, when I told them to be careful not to lean over the ropes or reach down toward the water, that they didn't have to worry about the gators because some "adult" had told them "it's just a MECHANICAL alligator". Taltarzac verified seeing this stupid "adult" saying this to them.

Some "adults" here pooh-poohed the warning. Disgraceful.

That's true. And I was with some teenage girls who were busy taking a lot of pictures from near the railing with their $200-$500 cell phones. There were some much smaller kids there also who could easily have fallen through the railing whether their parents were watching them or not.

It seems a lot of tourists in FL think the native life is something they would see in Disneyworld and is quite safe to be around.

[CaptJohn]

They were swimming in a river. The article also says he'll be the first back into the water and these were kids familiar with gators.

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by CaptJohn

They were swimming in a river. The article also says he'll be the first back into the water and these were kids familiar with gators.

It is probably a rare gator who attacks humans. Still have to watch out though.

I was more worried about the little dogs on twenty foot retracting leashes that some people had at the boardwalk on LSL. With that number of people trying to get a look at the gator in the water a small pooch might be bumped into the water. A lot of the strollers did not seem to be paying that much attention to other walkers nor paying too much attention to the gator below.

[asianthree]

so sad

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Of course we must exercise judgement when in areas where there are gators, but some people become a bit paranoid about them as well. There have been 18 fatal alligator attacks in the past 40 years in Florida and eleven of them involved people swimming, wading or snorkeling in the water with gators close by. I don;t think that there is any danger on the LSL boardwalk. Gators are not going to jump the ten feet or so up from the water. Yes, I would discourage kids from dangling their arms, but other then that, I believe that it's perfectly safe.
This poor kid was swimming in an area close to Lake Okeechobee where there are thousands of gators. Most gator have been removed from residential areas like the Villages. Occasionally, very occasionally a gator gets in to a residential area, but those instances are rare. Just use a little common sense and stay away from areas where they are known to hang out.

[firewalkerb3]

Just a reminder, a alligator can come straight up out of the water to within one foot of it's tail. Alligator are not pets and cannot be made into one. Alligators sleep and eat, nothing more. I have been involved in a few alligator attacks, 2 were fatal. One of the two was in the water, the other was setting on a bench, on a water walk way when she was pulled off by a alligator. They are eating machines, and as the alligator gets bigger. So does what's on the food chain, never trust one or drop your guard when around alligators. And we all know not to ever feed one. God Bless

[firewalkerb3]

You are so right.

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by Dr Winston O Boogie jr

Most gator have been removed from residential areas like the Villages. Occasionally, very occasionally a gator gets in to a residential area, but those instances are rare. Just use a little common sense and stay away from areas where they are known to hang out.

Most gators have been removed from The Villages? I don't agree. I think they only remove them if they get large and troublesome. Otherwise the retention ponds are havens for gators and they migrate through the irrigation pipes. We even had a gator briefly visit our "puddle" in back of our house, and then he moved on.