[perrjojo]

Originally Posted by Shimpy

What??? They were here long before us and toy boats eating what nature provided for them.

So true. We are guest in the gators habitat. Why do we insist on moving in and killing all of the former inhabitants.

[virgind]

i dont like spiders and snakes and I hate ducks

[manaboutown]

Originally Posted by Advogado

I suspect that this whole thread may have been provoked by a poorly written article in the Villages on-line newspaper.

The basic situation really seems to have been that there was an alligator, of a size that it would make it dangerous to us humans, removed from a densely populated area of The Villages. This happens all the time.

The on-line newspaper article made it appear that the removal was only due to the gator's having eaten a duck-- a practice in which gators naturally engage--tough on the duck, but a gator has to eat to survive. However, this gator would have been removed from Lake Mira Mar, sooner or later, even if the duck-eating incident had never occurred. The fact that the gator, instead of keeping a low profile, was indiscreet and ate in public during the daytime--thereby calling attention to itself, only hastened its eventual departure.

Tough on the gator, but people don't like being eaten or chewed on by large reptilian creatures, and The Villages is OUR natural habitat-- not the gator's.

Well, dogs, cats and even humans might have eventually come up on that gator's menu. The duck was just its starter course. When people establish communities some wildlife are inevitably displaced. Wonder what animals once lived in NYC, Boston and LA before the folks arrived and settled down?

[kcrazorbackfan]

Originally Posted by Barefoot

The gator has been trapped and will be killed. The duck has been euthanized.
The small gator was only hunting food in a pond, which is nature's way.
If you read this story in the National Enquirer, you wouldn't believe it.
Whoever made the decision to trap and kill this small gator should be held accountable for making a ridiculous decision.

I totally agree. THIS WAS A DUCK; not a human, nor a pet. Thousands of ducks are killed every year by hunters; should hunters be captured and relocated? It was doing what gators have done since their existence; nature taking care of nature. This was a bonehead kneejerk reaction by Florida Wildlife probably because of the idiot who momentarily lost all common sense and pulled the duck away from the gator.

[Cedwards38]

First of all, I'm sorry for the duck, but gators are carnivores! We are going to kill it for doing what nature intended for it to do? Maybe then we need to contact Disney and have them install audio animatronic gators!

[Johnd]

Another voice for the gator. Would prefer a vegetarian gator but that's not how it works.

[Topspinmo]

The gator habit has been reduced. Google map Florida you will rows of houses, cities, ect.. which means the gator, black bear, bobcat, coyote, cougar, ect... lost majority of there habits. The aliens mainly from northern states took it. Just like they pushed out nature back home. Some call it progress?

[villagerjack]

Originally Posted by Barefoot

The gator has been trapped and will be killed. The duck has been euthanized.
The small gator was only hunting food in a pond, which is nature's way.
If you read this story in the National Enquirer, you wouldn't believe it.
Whoever made the decision to trap and kill this small gator should be held accountable for making a ridiculous decision.

Agree completely. This is a travesty.

[villagerjack]

Originally Posted by manaboutown

Well, dogs, cats and even humans might have eventually come up on that gator's menu. The duck was just its starter course. When people establish communities some wildlife are inevitably displaced. Wonder what animals once lived in NYC, Boston and LA before the folks arrived and settled down?

I live in NY, visited LA and Boston and the animals are still there

[HimandMe]

When I first came to Florida decades ago, I remember hearing on the radio that there was as many gators in Florida as people and thousands of calls to get big ones out of backyards. They are still here and not in short supply. Actually on a nature program, it showed alligators, snakes and reptiles (and believe it or not chickens) are the few creatures to survive a war with radiation. (Hope I got that right). I don't worry about the future of alligators and welcome the huge or aggressive ones leaving my domain.

Yet chickens...that is something to ponder.

[Taltarzac725]

Villagers in the Castaways RC Model Boat Club were at the lake on the morning when the attack took place. One of the club members pulled the injured duck from the water.

from the other news site.

They were probably yelling at the gator which let go of the duck which was then picked up out of the water by the RC Model Boat Club member near the shore. It sounds like they got rid of the gator because of how bold it was to make this attack in front of people.

Sorry to hear that Gator Gus moved away?

[Shimpy]

Originally Posted by Taltarzac725

from the other news site.

It sounds like they got rid of the gator because of how bold it was to make this attack in front of people.
?

Gators are not aware of people watching them eat. Being bold isn't in the question. These people witnessed how gators eat and survive and saw what the real world is in nature. He was only eating what was available to him and that's what gators do.

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by Shimpy

Gators are not aware of people watching them eat. Being bold isn't in the question. These people witnessed how gators eat and survive and saw what the real world is in nature. He was only eating what was available to him and that's what gators do.

Gators are fairly aware of their surroundings would be my guess. That gator does seem to fit in the parameters of a nuisance alligator.

[Kahuna32162]

When are going to start getting rid of the nuisance RC boaters, playing in the gators habitat?

[twoplanekid]

I am wondering if the 8ft. gator that patrols the wharf at Lake Sumter will be next. When I was in TV last week, I witnessed a lady throwing things into the water to attract the gator’s interest which it did. Others complained to her but she stated “She was only feeding the ducks”. I saw this gator for three consecutive days watching and waiting for something to fall. I made sure as to not lean too far over the ropes and then slip.