[Altavia]

Originally Posted by KJ1325

The alligators were here before us. It's us that have taken their land and their home.

Well, the lakes here are man made. The Villages stocked then with fish creating a nice habitat for many forms of wildlife not found in the former pasture lands.

Problem is dumb dumb people make the animal a danger by associating humans with food feeding/catching fish, and bring dogs for them.

Alligator Safety | SREL Herpetology

[Taltarzac725]

I recall a group of what looked like Japanese tourists trying to get pictures of themselves almost straddling a very large gator that was sunning itself by a pond near Lake Tarpon in Palm Harbor, Florida.

Lake Tarpon, Florida, USA Vacation Info - LakeLubbers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LxPAoKzbYQ

[MartinSE]

For the people that want to GET RID of alligators.

Florida alligator bite statistics date back to 1948, ranging around three major bites per year.

1 fatality (human) by alligators annually.
57 deaths annually from bees.
50 deaths annually from dog bites (5 million bites per year)

Don't even get me started on people killed by people annually. Maybe we should get rid of all the people?

Stupid people will do stupid things and suffer the consequences. There is no way to protect people from themselves 100%.

[MartinSE]

Originally Posted by Robbie0723

Problem is dumb dumb people make the animal a danger by associating humans with food feeding/catching fish, and bring dogs for them.

Alligator Safety | SREL Herpetology

This is correct, and the sad reason alligators that bite have to be relocated or killed, since once they taste the dog (or child) they go back for seconds.

[TrapX]

Originally Posted by MartinSE

For the people that want to GET RID of alligators.

Florida alligator bite statistics date back to 1948, ranging around three major bites per year.

1 fatality (human) by alligators annually.
57 deaths annually from bees.
50 deaths annually from dog bites (5 million bites per year)

Don't even get me started on people killed by people annually. Maybe we should get rid of all the people?

Stupid people will do stupid things and suffer the consequences. There is no way to protect people from themselves 100%.

If there is a thumbtack on the floor, I pick it up. Just because I might never step on it doesn't preclude me from wanting to make things better and safer. There ae lots of ways to protect people from themselves. Not 100%, but one bit at a time.

We can make our environment safer. Takes 1 brain cell to know that's a good thing. Alligators are useless pests. They provide nothing useful to me. I don't care if they wandered into a drainage pond before I lived here. There are 1,500,000 alligators in Florida. And more every year. 100 less won't matter.

You better be a 100% vegetarian. You are a hypocrite if you eat any meat if you value an alligator more than humans.

[Nucky]

What were we talking about? Oh yeah, an alligator and a dog's demise.

[Caymus]

Originally Posted by TrapX

Alligators are useless pests. They provide nothing useful to me.

They make good wallets.

[MartinSE]

Originally Posted by TrapX

You are a hypocrite if you eat any meat if you value an alligator more than humans.

This sentence makes no sense to me. So, I will just say, have a nice life.

I am going to campaign for killing all the Bees in the neighbors - since 50 times as many people die every year from bee stings than alligator bites. But, sadly I will have to give up vegetables, almonds, fruit and honey, since I don't want to be a hypocrite.

I have given up drinking because 10,000 times as many people die each year from drunk driving. I think Alcohol should be banned.

OH, and let's ban guns too since 1200 children die EVERY year from guns in their homes. I am sure no one here would like to be a hypocrite and have a gun when so many human lives are destroyed every year.

Yeah, that's the ticket. Thank you for saving me from being a hypocrite.

[Michael G.]

We all should be dam glad those alligators are there instead of Pythons.

[DonnaNi4os]

Originally Posted by Two Bills

So.
A 'visitor' takes dogs, unleashed, for a walk around the pond located across from the postal station on Canal Street in the Village of Bonita.
Alligator does what hungry alligators do when they see a lunch, and takes and kills one of the dogs.
Trapper called to kill Alligator!
Why?
If someone is dumb enough to take dogs to a pond area, and let them off leash to wander, why has poor alligator got to die.
Surely owner should be charged with allowing dogs off leash, and cruelty to animals?
My entire sympathy is with alligator, and poor dog who died!

So sad all the way around, I just don’t understand anyone who allows their dogs to run off leash. It isn’t only gators that are a threat. Cars, coyote, bobcats and other dogs can be a threat you your dog no matter the size. A responsible owner does the right thing and keeps their dog ON LEASH unless in their own yard or home. It is our duty to keep them safe.

[Spalumbos62]

Originally Posted by Robbie0723

Well, the lakes here are man made. The Villages stocked then with fish creating a nice habitat for many forms of wildlife not found in the former pasture lands.

Problem is dumb dumb people make the animal a danger by associating humans with food feeding/catching fish, and bring dogs for them.

Alligator Safety | SREL Herpetology

So if the lakes are man made how come we have so many gators in them. People say there are gators in every body of water in fl.....so all the little ponds etc have them? Not trying to be funny ....took my husband quite a few years to get me to agree to moving down here and now it seems my fear is coming around.
There is a very small pond close to my house, yes I assume it has a gator...I never actually check, but has someone put their little baby gator in to get things started? Why don't they just scale the ponds somehow and remove them?...can you tell I'm scared?
Again it just baffles me...we're gonna build this beautiful community, homes and streets and trees and beautiful ponds here and there...and now, bc of what...the ponds are full of gators...did they all travel at night past the gate guards from outside the TV and jump in. This isn't caveman vs Adam..this is cow field, development, ponds...now full of gators........your turn, educate me. Pls

[EviesGP]

FYI. I'm not sure they have captured the gator, as I drove by there the other day, and the bait traps(large poles with meat on a hook dangling above the water) were still there?! If they haven't, at this point, I don't think they ever will(definintely capture THAT gator)?
And, there are alot of myths about the dangers of alligators. They can't chew, so all they can do is drown their victims, and allow them to rot, so they can ingest them. That gator left the dog floating in the pond. I also know/met one of the divers retrieving golf balls from the ponds. He's been bitten about a dozen times, with no real serious injuries. He carries a stick, and pokes them around the eyes, and they swim off. I met him(and watched) while working the golf courses.

[fdpaq0580]

Originally Posted by Spalumbos62

So if the lakes are man made how come we have so many gators in them. People say there are gators in every body of water in fl.....so all the little ponds etc have them? Not trying to be funny ....took my husband quite a few years to get me to agree to moving down here and now it seems my fear is coming around.
There is a very small pond close to my house, yes I assume it has a gator...I never actually check, but has someone put their little baby gator in to get things started? Why don't they just scale the ponds somehow and remove them?...can you tell I'm scared?
Again it just baffles me...we're gonna build this beautiful community, homes and streets and trees and beautiful ponds here and there...and now, bc of what...the ponds are full of gators...did they all travel at night past the gate guards from outside the TV and jump in. This isn't caveman vs Adam..this is cow field, development, ponds...now full of gators........your turn, educate me. Pls

You don't need to be educated, just reassured. Unless you are swimming in the ponds you are very unlikely going to be bitten by an alligator. Enjoy the wonders of our Florida wildlife that shares our community.
😊

[Michael G.]

Originally Posted by MartinSE

OH, and let's ban guns too since 1200 children die EVERY year from guns in their homes. I am sure no one here would like to be a hypocrite and have a gun when so many human lives are destroyed every year.

Ban Guns.......hmmmmm Didn't the City of Chicago try that??

[Altavia]

Originally Posted by Spalumbos62

So if the lakes are man made how come we have so many gators in them. People say there are gators in every body of water in fl.....so all the little ponds etc have them? Not trying to be funny ....took my husband quite a few years to get me to agree to moving down here and now it seems my fear is coming around.
There is a very small pond close to my house, yes I assume it has a gator...I never actually check, but has someone put their little baby gator in to get things started? Why don't they just scale the ponds somehow and remove them?...can you tell I'm scared?
Again it just baffles me...we're gonna build this beautiful community, homes and streets and trees and beautiful ponds here and there...and now, bc of what...the ponds are full of gators...did they all travel at night past the gate guards from outside the TV and jump in. This isn't caveman vs Adam..this is cow field, development, ponds...now full of gators........your turn, educate me. Pls

In general, the gaters seem to prefer (migrate) to have a pond to themselves. Unusual to see more than two together.

The ponds are connected by large underground pipes for storm water control so at least the smaller ones may be moving through those.

Nothing to fear if you stay out of the water and a safe distance from the banks.