[Hyacinth Bucket]

Hi, i feel sad about the buffalo being moved. I always looked forward to seeing them. They were one of the only things in TV that wasn't man made.

Originally Posted by Lil Dancer

As large as The Villages will be at full build-out, I notice that one thing that seems to be missing from the plan is a large park. Something with walking trails, a tranquil place away from all the traffic and hubub. I don't know if anyone else is interested in that type of thing, but I wish they would consider taking some of the buffalo acreage and turn it into a park.

I think this is an excellent idea. What we did not know when we saw TV originally that you could not walk through the wild life areas that we visited.

Does anyone know how an idea like this is presented and to whom? Do you need petitions filled out? Please let me know. Thanks.

Knowing how much people love parks one of the cruise ship lines newer ships is having a park in the center of the ship.

HB

[nONIE]

Donna,

yes, Im sure your right about that. unfortunately there are those of us from the human race that really know how to screw up a good thing!! :

[villages07]

I can certainly understand the liability issue...I, too, have seen humans do stupid things around the buffalo. But, I am very sad to see them go. Too bad they can't gather up a number of them into one pen and do a double fence as suggested by Muncle and Ronda. The buffalo are a great marketing tool for young and old alike.

I also am curious with what will happen to the existing fields. I'm not sure any of the fields are currently designated as wildlife/preserve. Certainly the pen around Lake Sumter is destined for commercial development someday. Creating parks/walking trails is a wonderful idea.

[redwitch]

How sad. I've truly enjoyed just stopping and watching these magnificant animals. I've never understood the need to get close to them, let alone let little ones feed them. That we have to be deprived because of the idiocy of some really irritates me.

[beady]

How very sad that one of the neat and unique features of our community is being taken away due to someone's stupidity. :realmad: There are signs on all the fences indicating it is unwise to get up close and personal with these, wild animals.
We all just recently had the pleasure of watching the births of a new generation and now they will be removed from our viewing.

I think the double fence idea would be a good solution. How do we go about suggesting that to the Morse family?

[samhass]

Oh no, Chuck, not the gators. I love having the gators around. They were here before we
were and I enjoy watching them. I keep my distance...as people should have done with the buffs.

Originally Posted by chuckinca

Why not get rid of the Gators first?

[JohnM]

Can someone who heard the Mark Morse speech post a detailed summary?

[TomW]

I want to add another voice for the park. Also second the motion to get a good summary of the speech posted.

[drr47]

Fear not, the Buffalo may be gone but another herd of something will take their place, if not the Villages will lose their Ag exemption and the very large tax(local)break on the land where the Buffalo roamed.

[SteveZ]

It is utterly amazing that people must have warning signs for everything - stay off the top rung of the ladder - don't walk in quicksand - thirld rail is live - point rifle downrange - and so it goes...

And we call the buffalo "dumb animals." It least they don't need a sign!

[Barefoot]

It is sad to think that when I return in October, there will be no more buffalo. They have been such an integral part of Village life and a source of pride for residents.

The "close proximity" of the buffalo to humans could have been easily resolved by double fencing, or electric fencing (which gives a slight shock, unpleasant but not dangerous). The Developer has horse farms and would be well aware of the options.

And that is why I don't buy the story that the buffalo are being moved in the best interests of the public. To me, it looks like the Developer wanted to use the valuable buffalo fields for other purposes. (And I don't have a problem with that, he owns the property, and should be able to use it as he wishes). Rather than having a public outcry about losing the buffalo, it is much easier to sell the idea that the buffalo are being moved because they pose a danger to residents.

It is hard to believe that anyone would expose themselves or their children to danger from wild animals. There are gators on some of the golf courses, and I've heard of golfers poking them with a club to try to get them to move so they can recover a ball. (Fumar, heard a rumour it was you, but not sure).

As a sidenote, when I had horses I backed on a regional forest. I would sometimes go out to feed the horses and find strangers with their children inside the horse paddock patting the horses. They were so surprised when I informed them they were putting their children at risk. Even the friendliest 1,000 pound animal can be unpredictable and dangerous.

[Hyacinth Bucket]

Originally Posted by drr47

Fear not, the Buffalo may be gone but another herd of something will take their place, if not the Villages will lose their Ag exemption and the very large tax(local)break on the land where the Buffalo roamed.

Hi, where did you get this info? I would like to read what the Ag exemption states.

I agree with everybody who wrote about people either not reading posted signs or not thinking about what they are doing re: dangers.

HB

[llaran]

IT IS VERY SAD THAT THE STUPIDITY OF A FEW WILL AFFECT THOUSANDS. WE HAVE A BABY BUFFALO BEHIND OUR HOUSE; HOW UNTHINKING CAN YOU BE NOT TO KNOW THESE ARE WILD ANIMALS AND WILL PROTECT THEIR YOUNG. WE TOLD SEVERAL PEOPLE NOT TO GET TOO CLOSE OR THE MORTHER WILL CHARGE.

IS'T THERE SOMEWAY WE CAN KEEP THESE WONDERFUL ANIMALS?

[ouma1938]

That is so sad. People can be so stupid and it just ruins things for those of us who behave sensibly and respect nature. It's not rocket science.....wild creatures will react if they are threatened or feel threatened. And to put their children in jeapody is insane. What a pity that we can no longer enjoy the sight of those magnificent creatures.

[chelsea24]

Stupid people again! I hope anyone that has ever approached a Buffalo or gator or any other animal, including a dog they don't know will read this -- I hope they read this and realize what idiots they truly are. :verymad: I am soooo angry about this. Partly, because when my husband had his Veterinarian practice we would get poor dogs in all the time for quarantine because they bit someone and that someone should have known better than to approach an unknown dog or have their kid put their fingers through some fence to pet the "doggie". Carrots to Buffalos! Idiots! Listen villiagers if anyone approaches any one of my pets without my permission, I will charge at you and bite you myself! grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr