Here is the Alexander Springs attack:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bn1-fLsEwaM

Usually? Uh oh

I think those encounters were in Silver River—not Silver Springs. Silver River is still part of the park, so the news mentioned Silver Springs State Park. I’ve been to springs around the state many times and have never seen a gator in the actual spring—just in the rivers flowing from them. The various state parks have swimming areas in them. They are safe, but the water is freaking cold.

BTW, Silver Springs was used to film movies and TV shows such as Tarzan and Sea Hunt. They have glass bottom boats that take you around the spring and down the river. It used to be a major tourist attraction before Disney came to the state and destroyed the economics of the amusement parks around the state.

Always. Same temperature year round because the water comes from deep in the earth. I think it’s 72°. Gators are cold-blooded creatures and the colder they are, the slower they move.

The various springs are the best places to see manatees in large numbers. They swim up to the springs during cold snaps because the water gets too cold in the rivers. Cold water causes their skin to blister. A tour guide at Blue Spring told me that the spring had so many manatees that they were shoulder to shoulder during one cold spell.

Well, we've been here for over 20 years and my brother and sister for over 40 ... rule of thumb: if there's water, just assume that there's an alligator in it. Just sayin'.

Better safe than sorry

What's a DW?

Please keep in mind that you are far more likely to die in a crash on the way to a spring than to be attacked by a Gator (unless you are an FSU fan! 😉).

Dear wife.

Last few years looks like in football, Seminoles playing against a bunch of females,:bigbow:

My husband and I went to Rainbow Springs this past Wednesday. $2/person entrance (keep receipt if you go back to your car and want to reenter w/o paying again), roped area for swimming, lots of people in the water yet plenty of room. Everyone had a noodle since the water is deep from right off the dock to the far rope, 3 ladders to climb out. We snorkeled and it was a lot of fun! Pool is open til 7pm, no lifeguard but rangers are around and a park boat cruised into the area several times. Lots of open land to set up chairs, visitor center/gift shop/food, paved trails on the opposite side of swim area that lead you thru woods - remains of "old" Rainbow Springs: zoo area, rodeo site. All the waterfalls along the trails are still working, great for selfies. Saw deer. Stopped at Swampy's on the way home, it's on the river.

Never considered how much I have in common with Floridian creatures like Gators & Manatees. Cold drains my energy so I avoid it. Makes hives on my skin too. I wouldn’t want to count on a small cold gator not having the spirit to bite me.