[Villageshooter]

Originally Posted by duffysmom

Actually the local trapper has posted here on TOTV and is a savy compassionate fellow with what I think is a horrible way to make a living. When he can he relocates the gator. I believe that the gators will be on the move now that the mating season has started.

There are a lot of horrible ways to make a living killing alligators is not the worst is Troy says choot em!

I always felt sorry for the guy that had to cut their heads off of hogs when they butchered him with a chainsaw Now that's a horrible job

[buggyone]

Originally Posted by samhass

Last year a gator grabbed my neighbor's dog. Bounce lived to tell the tale. Yesterday I thought Bounce was going to get bitten by a snake in my yard but that dog has nine lives. I pulled apart two large pots and a magnificent corn snake was in the bottom pot. Bounce and Gator Gus were visiting and Bounce stuck his nose right in the pot. The bite would have been non-poisonous, but unpleasant.

If I remember that incident - and if it is the same one - the dog was off the leash and running loose when an alligator grabbed it. The gator was killed just because the dog's owner could not follow rules and keep the dog on a leash.

Secondly, very, very doubtful if a corn snake would have bitten a dog's nose. Corn snakes are not apt to bite. BTW, the proper term is non-venomous. A venom is injected as by a snake's fangs. A poison has to be ingested as by someone eating a poisonous mushroom.

If I see parents and kids feeding one of the alligators at Lake Sumter off the boardwalk, I always tell them they are signing the death warrant for that animal - and I try to make them feel very bad about it. I also tell them there is a $400 fine for feeding alligators. You may think this is a wrong thing to tell them but lots of people do not know what happens when a wild animal becomes dependent on people for food.

[DonH57]

I agree buggy. I hate to see any animals having to be destroyed because of human interference. May not be the right word to use but causing their dependance on us certainly seals their fate.

[renielarson]

Post from buggyone: "If I remember that incident - and if it is the same one - the dog was off the leash and running loose when an alligator grabbed it. The gator was killed just because the dog's owner could not follow rules and keep the dog on a leash."

Originally Posted by gomoho

"...And is is not against the law to have your dog off leash in their own yard. Outside the yard is a different story."

If I remember correctly, that dog was in its own yard that abuts the pond where the gator was.

[buggyone]

Originally Posted by brightspot01

Post from buggyone: "If I remember that incident - and if it is the same one - the dog was off the leash and running loose when an alligator grabbed it. The gator was killed just because the dog's owner could not follow rules and keep the dog on a leash."



If I remember correctly, that dog was in its own yard that abuts the pond where the gator was.

I honestly do not know all the details about if the dog was or was not in it's yard - but I do seem to remember hearing that alligator was a known resident of that pond - and it does seem foolish of the dog's owner to let the dog run free to the pond where it was known there was a resident alligator.

Anyhow, that situation is over and done with and no need to re-hash it anymore. Just a shame that an alligator had to be killed when relocation would have taken care of the situation just as good.

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by billethkid

just think what it would be like if they treated us for invading their space as we seem to think we have a right to do when they "invade ours"!!!! Leave them alone and they will get to where they are going. I think to kill rule is almost as ridiculous as the need to complain about them. btk

Originally Posted by duffysmom

Sad to see that this magnificent creature had to be destroyed. It irritates me no end to see people feeding the alligators at the Sumter boardwalk; it's a death sentence and beyond stupid. Let's get educated and have some respect for all the creatures who live in this enviornment with us.

Originally Posted by DonH57

I agree buggy. I hate to see any animals having to be destroyed because of human interference. May not be the right word to use but causing their dependance on us certainly seals their fate.

I agree with the above posters. We are now living on what used to be the undisturbed habitat of gators, coyotes and foxes. If at all possible, surely we should try to live harmoniously with the animals we've displaced.

[rubicon]

While I would not want to see or hear of anyone abusing any sort of critter it is obvious that since the beginning of time the war of humans vs critters as prevailed. Out bear that's my cave now. Taste like chicken. Love the feel of that fur. He came riding in with is snakeskin boots on and the alligator belt with the big buckle. Cashmere you say?

[perrjojo]

Originally Posted by Barefoot

I agree with the above posters. We are now living on what used to be the undisturbed habitat of gators, coyotes and foxes. If at all possible, surely we should try to live harmoniously with the animals we've displaced.

Amen...what do you expect when you move to a swamp? I LUV our swamp creatures but would not invite them to dinner. I would like to see us coexist, but then that is what the Native Americans wanted too.

[kittygilchrist]

Originally Posted by Ohio RailGirl

The trapper said the gator was over the length limit to relocate back to a pond so he had to kill it. He said it was considered a nuisance gator. He used a bang stick that had a bullet in it.

I'm glad gators have bounced in population enuf to be a nuisance instead of endangered. Hope he's in Gator Heaven, up over Gainesville.

[kittygilchrist]

Originally Posted by Barefoot

I agree with the above posters. We are now living on what used to be the undisturbed habitat of gators, coyotes and foxes. If at all possible, surely we should try to live harmoniously with the animals we've displaced.

If I were God, I'd make a planet where all the creatures simply breathe and don't need to kill something to survive. Apparently the plan was that everything living has to consume something that's alive to survive. It's hubris to think anything can subsist otherwise. I think this is true. If not, cite your references!
If I lived with guilt every day because animals and plants were encroached on or destroyed I would have no joy and neither would any other human.