[KILLICKB]

In one way I trust that the reason being given for moving the Buffalo from public access is a true one, in another isn't it sad that once again a very few (possibly not even Village residents) have made it neccessary to take away what was, for our family and I am sure many others, a symbol of TV and its encompassing of the natural order of things. These are the types of unsocial, selfish persons that they used to put in the stocks on the village green for all to see and deluge with rotten tomatoes etc!! If only -------! One can only hope that these few (and their legal tutoring team) have many sleepless nights and years of regret of depleting their community of a rare opportunity to see a little nature up close. One can also hope that the Developer might contemplate a way to reverse this decision.

[villages07]

Well said Killick....I truly hope the Developer listens to all the feedback he will no doubt get on this topic and try to find a workable solution.

[MSNPA]

I was very upset upon reading in The Daily Sun that they are going to move the buffalo away from public access since there are currently three litigation claims. I would bet those three people did something to provoke the buffalo. People forget these are wild animals. I can't imagine where they will be moved or how they will be moved, but I do know they will be missed.

[samhass]

I hope the courts throw these suits out the door. The buffs, like the gators, are wild. People should not put themselves at risk. Of course realizing that the Developer has deep pockets may be the reason some people put themselves in harm's way. Just a thought.

Originally Posted by KILLICKB

In one way I trust that the reason being given for moving the Buffalo from public access is a true one, in another isn't it sad that once again a very few (possibly not even Village residents) have made it neccessary to take away what was, for our family and I am sure many others, a symbol of TV and its encompassing of the natural order of things. These are the types of unsocial, selfish persons that they used to put in the stocks on the village green for all to see and deluge with rotten tomatoes etc!! If only -------! One can only hope that these few (and their legal tutoring team) have many sleepless nights and years of regret of depleting their community of a rare opportunity to see a little nature up close. One can also hope that the Developer might contemplate a way to reverse this decision.

[Fourpar]

:'( What a shame! The place won't be the same without the Buffs. All because of a few idiots!
Perhaps the powers that be will get enough feedback to change that decision....Possible?

[sandybill2]

I am truly upset about the decision to remove the buffalo from public view---as I am sure thousands of people will be. I have fed the buffalo on occasion but do so with utmost caution as they are wild animals and I have sense enough to know that. I also realize that if I am injured while doing so---it will be my fault--certainly not the buffalo's or The Villages. Frivilous lawsuits and the lawyers who handle them create so many problems in our country. Don't know what the answer is and don't know if we can do anything about this decision.

[Russ_Boston]

I'm glad that we got a chance to view them up close before they are moved. It's sad that my eventual grandchildren won't have the chance to see them. BUT...

I'm not a lawyer but anytime you PLACE wild animals in with humans they are not in their natural habitat. The people with the lawsuits may be stupid in their interactions with the animals but unfortunately the lawsuits are probably not frivolous if the parties were actually injured in some way. Remember at some point these type of issues will be settled by the insurance that we homeowners are paying into a common association fee and not by the deep pocket developer's insurance. I live in an HOA development here in MA and we need to be vigilant on negligence issues as well as we have common HOA insurance paid by all homeowners.

[jadebox]

A couple years ago I witnessed up close a women who was standing by the fence looking at the buffalo. The buffalo all of a sudden put his head over the fence and she jumped back and fell. She kept yelling that the buffalo had pushed her over. No way had the buffalo touched her.
I too think we should keep the buffalo. I also undrstand the problem with lawsuits. Such a shame.

[babe1636]

I agree. I've seen people hang on the fence and even hold the little ones up for a close touch of the huge buffalo! Article in the paper today was right on, signs are not enough, who reads the postings? This will be a loss for all of us and our family's that come to visit. When my brother first came over to visit he was so impressed seeing the buffalo he told his wife, "This is where I want to move to."

[KILLICKB]

Russ, while the suits may not be frivolous the acts that caused these " litiginous injuries " were probably self stupidity or ignorance --- is that the same as "accidental"? We and our grandchildren have fed the TV Buffalo many times, we have camped in many National Parks where the Buffalo walked through the campsites, have hiked and shared trails with wild Buffalo but never saw aggressive behaviour toward a human --- doesn't mean it hasn't or cannot happen, just means, in our experience, that it would have to be provoked. It isn't as though these are "predatory" wild animals. However the fact remains we have perfectly sane people amongst us who lack all common sense and have to blame something or someone other than themselves for all of their misfortunes. I understand that the Villages already knew that any Buffalo over five years of age gets a little testy and so they traded their herd to maintain a juvenile one.

[Russ_Boston]

I hear you Killi but you and I and all of TOTV are not going to change the trial lawyers lobby's hold on legislation. I know it may be a ruse to blame the liability and maybe the developer just wants the land but the legal threat could be legit. They (the Morse's nor the CDD's) are not experts in the zoo business and that is what the lawyers will claim (and will win if not settled by the insurance company).

Yes people are stupid but we pay off stupid people everyday in the civil court system.

[Beltlady]

I have already written a Letter to the Editor with copy to Mark Morse pleading with him/them to reconsider moving the buffalo's. Let's do everything and anything we can to keep them in view. I think that with 70,000 population not counting visitors and 3 suits is not a good enough ratio to hide our mascots.
Maybe a sign like Persons injured by buffalo will get a $5,000 fine, with make more people cautious.

[drdodge]

To bad a few people are sue happy.Any claim for a few free dollars
drd

[sandybill2]

Maybe "frivilous" was a poor choice of words. What I meant was that alot of people refuse to take responsibility for their own actions. They are always looking for someone to blame when all they need to do is look in the mirror.

[Barefoot]

The Daily Sun reports that there are currently three buffalo litigation claims. So the buffalo have to be sent away to protect the residents. If the Developer truly wants to keep the buffalo, he will listen to the residents and provide a barrier between folks and the buffalo! A double fence with electric fencing would do the trick. (Electric fences give a light shock which is unpleasant but not dangerous). And more signs to further reduce his liability.

Makes me wonder if the Developer wants to claim back the buffalo fields for a more profitable use. Which he is totally within his rights to do. And is taking this opportunity to announce the buffalo are being moved to isolation. This way the Developer deflects the anger of residents onto "the stupid people who caused the buffalo to be moved" and not at the Developer. Hope this isn't the case.