[thevillages2013]

Originally Posted by Michael G.

I'm wondering if they remove the alligators in TV when they get a certain size.

My wife's niece lives in a very exclusive subdivision near Jacksonville, and they
have a small lake with alligators, but they remove them when they get 4' or less.

Do gators shrink in Jacksonville rather than grow?

[thevillages2013]

Originally Posted by ElDiabloJoe

A couple questions about Lake Sumter. The lake itself. How deep is it (on average and at its greatest depth), and are there gators in it. I ask the last question because I watched a bunch of loons or cormorants swimming around in it this morning, and thought, "Geez, brave bunch of little fellas."

When there is heavy heavy rain, do the anchored out little row boats fill up/sink?

Any ideas?

You misspelled the title so you would get more responses. I am on to you

[thevillages2013]

Originally Posted by ElDiabloJoe

Follow up question, who are the various boats on the lake named after? Morse grandchildren maybe?

Should have axed that question when you went on the ferry tour

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by thevillages2013

Google “I need a bambulance” but listen to the uncut version

[Smalley]

Originally Posted by Nell57

Last week I went out with a naturalist for a day. He related that every inch from about to eye = one foot in length.

How did you arrange to spend a day with a naturalist. That sounds so interesting!

[Rsenholzi]

The lake is about 12 ft deep according to the tours. There are plenty of gators in it - big and small. It is spring fed so there are plenty of fish to feed them - tilapia, bass, etc. The birds seem to co-exist with the gators. You will see that in many of the ponds. Small children and animals should be kept away from the edge as gators move quickly when hungry - as fast as 20 mph. They should not be given people food as that encourages them to approach without fear. When that happens , they are considered nuisance animals and then they are destroyed. They only reason Larry was taken away was the public loved him and were up in arms when they were going to send in a hunter. Many have been killed because of this. Grandchildren should not be encouraged to feed them and taught the environmentally correct way by encouraging them to view these wonderful animals from afar.

[fdpaq0580]

Originally Posted by ThirdOfFive

How do they get 'em to hold still long enough to measure?

Tequila shots.

[Madelaine Amee]

Originally Posted by Packer Fan

Possibly the worst mispronunciation in the English Langauge-
"I need to Axe you a question". There is not faster way to sound
uneducated than that. It isn't even close to Ask.

Sumter with a P is pretty common though, and being a Name rather than an actual standard word it is not really surprising.

I think you meant the English Language

[Rodneysblue]

Originally Posted by ThirdOfFive

How do they get 'em to hold still long enough to measure?

🤣😂🤣😂

[LynneH]

Hi Grandparents, instead of having your grandkids feed our local wild gators, take them to Gator Land. They will see gators of every imaginable size, plus flamingos and other animals native to Florida.

[Rodneysblue]

Originally Posted by thevillages2013

Should have axed that question when you went on the ferry tour

They would have chopped it up anyway. 🤣

[Bilyclub]

Originally Posted by ElDiabloJoe

A couple questions about Lake Sumter. The lake itself. How deep is it (on average and at its greatest depth), and are there gators in it. I ask the last question because I watched a bunch of loons or cormorants swimming around in it this morning, and thought, "Geez, brave bunch of little fellas."

When there is heavy heavy rain, do the anchored out little row boats fill up/sink?

Any ideas?

Fix the title... That P is driving me nuts...

[DaleDivine]

Originally Posted by Packer Fan

Possibly the worst mispronunciation in the English Langauge-
"I need to Axe you a question". There is not faster way to sound
uneducated than that. It isn't even close to Ask.

Sumter with a P is pretty common though, and being a Name rather than an actual standard word it is not really surprising.

My mother's maiden name was SUMPTER. Great Great grandfather was from South Carolina and a member of the Cherokee Tribe.

I think a lot of words like axe instead of ask is referred to as Ebonics.

[DaleDivine]

Originally Posted by ElDiabloJoe

I took the boat ride today. Yes, the gator's name was Larry. It is the ONLY gator taken alive from Sumter. The rest usually end up washed up on a bank dead and are removed. The birds are harder for the gators to catch than fish, so they usually go for the fish. Catfish, Big mouth bass, and wild tilapia. This time of year (according to the boat ride's First Mate) they are more or less dormant. Don't know if I buy that, it's not like the lake freezes. Average depth is 15 feet but there are deeper points. Anyhow, interesting stuff.

I've seen them chomping on some healthy sized turtles as well.

[DaleDivine]

Originally Posted by Almanurse1

One came right up to my foot on the dock when the water was high last spring.

We've gone on the boat tour a couple of times and the men working the boarding station will hit paddles on the water and gators will come swimming over to investigate.