[PugMom]

Originally Posted by jimjamuser

As I heard the story, children went inside the fence to "PET" the Buffalo and the herd leader charged. Either way, that IS right that it was a shame and a GREAT illustration of HUMAN ignorance concerning animals and the potential danger that they can present.

let's not forget the parents who put their kid over the fence to pet the gator

[Rainger99]

Originally Posted by jimjamuser

You can Google the actual attack. The video I saw stopped after the Woman was knocked down as the VERY LARGE Gator charged out of the water (very fast on land) at the dog and then turned its attention to the woman. It must have gotten to brutal to show after that. I suggest that all the bunny-hugging Winston-lovers WATCH that video and put themselves in her place on the ground with this GIANT dinosaur-like creature with a 2 ft long open jaw up to her face ready to pounce. I won't ever forget that video!

This is the video of the incident. It stops just before the woman is attacked but it is still terrifying so if it upsets you, please don't watch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kprXUlml1-I

[PugMom]

Originally Posted by MrFlorida

I have friends that live up north, that moved from the city to a rural area, then started complaining about the Bears, they wanted them all removed..... If you are afraid of gators, you can always move to an area that doesn't have gators.... How about California ? You will have plenty to complain about there....

i've seen more bears up in Ct., than here. the only 1 i saw in Wildwood was on the chanel 6 news.

[Maker]

When I read some of the posts against the concept of removing every alligator, and reasoning based upon cars, dogs, birds, etc... It means you have no valid response to the question at hand. Those other animals have nothing to do with the alligator issue.
Trying to change the discussion into off-topic areas is an old trick used when people have no other legitimate things to say. A politician says deny, deny, deny, then deflect, deflect, deflect.

Don't say "they were here first" because they were not. Humans built the ponds, and then alligators invaded those ponds. Even if the "here first" argument was valid, humans are here now.

I say a human life wins over any alligator. Alligators present an actual and potential risk to killing people. Time to address that problem.

If you oppose removal of the alligators.. Say it, and state your reasons why. Publicly state why an alligator life is worth more than a human life. Leave out dogs and cars and "stupid" people. State why this community should allow alligators to remain here as a threat to humans.

[Garywt]

I don’t think I have responded to this and yes anyone or thing killed by an alligator is tragic but everyone can be avoided. Just stay away, look from afar. People walking along ponds, fishing in ponds, sitting next to ponds are just asking for trouble. Gators will leave you alone if you are not at their habitat.

[Byte1]

Originally Posted by fdpaq0580

I find it interesting, but not surprising, just how many people think the only answer is to eradicate whatever they don't like, fear or are unable to appreciate.

Oh, do you mean like banning guns?

[Byte1]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

The solution to the alligator "problem" is the same as the solution to the other, off-topic problems: Don't put yourself in an obviously dangerous situation. Don't stand on the tracks while a train is approaching is more than just grammatically the same as don't stand on the shoreline while an alligator is approaching.

Just curious - why do you think that disguising an accusation as a question makes a good argument?

In answer to your accusation, I don't value an alligator's life over an human life. If I was there at the time and had a weapon with me there is no question which of the two I would have used the weapon on.
Reading those comments, I would "question which of the two."
But that isn't the situation now, it isn't an alligator life vs. human life situation. The question now is whether alligators in their natural habitat can coexist with humans?
"natural habitat?" You mean, man made don't you?
Do we need to kill all the alligators to make humans safe? Over the last 75 years there has been fewer than one death by alligator every three years. Of all the things out there that can kill us, alligators seem to be relatively safe. When you consider the circumstances behind many of those deaths (wading in to retrieve a disc or golf ball, standing on the shore watching the alligator approach) it seems the humans took the action to put themselves in danger - were it not for clearly poor choices the humans made, they would not have been killed.

If an animal is threatening a human then the animal should lose. If a human puts themselves into a dangerous situation then it's hard to blame the animal. Killing animals to make it impossible for humans to make bad choices is just wrong.

An alligator kills a human about once every three years. By contrast, dogs kill between 30 and 40 humans EACH AND EVERY YEAR! If you want to protect humans from animals then alligators are the wrong focus. When you argue to eradicate dogs as strongly as you argue to kill alligators THEN I will respect your position.

So, if I have my CCW at the time I witness an attack, what do you think would happen if I shot and killed the 'gator? I would, but everyone knows what would happen to me legally, right?
I believe it is ridiculous for folks to say, if you don't like or fear 'gators then you should move somewhere else. I guess if I don't like rattlesnakes or other poisonous snakes, I should not have them removed or killed, right? I should move because they were here first? How about coyotes? They are NOT native to Florida, yet here they are running free through the Villages. Dogs have to be on lease, but coyotes are not. Most likely and most of the time they will run away from you, but if they are hungry and see your little dog on a lease, they will attempt to attack the dog. And they WILL attack people also. One attempted to attack my spouse when we lived up North and I chased it away. After that, I shot at every one of them that crossed my land. Farmers paid $500 each for coyotes shot on their farms.
I love animals, but I also respect their dangerous and wild nature. Children and seniors should not have to fear bird watching at the ponds, or fishing. This is NOT a natural habitat for alligators. They should be removed and placed in a more natural habitat or like I said before, used at footwear, luggage and/or food. We eat chickens and cattle and give it no thought. We wear leather shoes and coats made of cowhide, pig, sheep and horse hide. We also use deer skin for clothing. I am not going to cry over the removal of a reptile that I can see on National Geographic or at the 'gator farm a few miles away.
Please don't kill the bugs that invade your house, because this is their natural habitat.....

[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by Garywt

I don’t think I have responded to this and yes anyone or thing killed by an alligator is tragic but everyone can be avoided. Just stay away, look from afar. People walking along ponds, fishing in ponds, sitting next to ponds are just asking for trouble. Gators will leave you alone if you are not at their habitat.

What about the gators that come calling at your front door? Will they leave you alone as you walk out your front door?

[fdpaq0580]

Originally Posted by coffeebean

What about the gators that come calling at your front door? Will they leave you alone as you walk out your front door?

If one ever shows up at your door, give it a try, then report back with your findings.

[fdpaq0580]

Originally Posted by Byte1

Oh, do you mean like banning guns?

The thought of guns, whether to ban or not, never entered my mind. I do find it interesting that guns is the first, and apparently the only thing that you related to. I make no judgment, just find it interesting.

[fdpaq0580]

Originally Posted by Byte1

So, if I have my CCW at the time I witness an attack, what do you think would happen if I shot and killed the 'gator? I would, but everyone knows what would happen to me legally, right? :

Actually, I have no idea what would happen to you if you used your legal weapon to save a life. I am guessing you would be hailed as a hero. Probably, you would be interviewed by the media, end up on a few talk shows, and promote good, sensible, safe and legal gun ownership.

[Happydaz]

If you want to lower the death rate of animals killing humans you might want to look at eradicating all the bees, wasps and hornets. They kill around 56 people per year in the USA. Also dogs kill 30-50 people every year. Alcohol kills 100,000 Americans each year. Drug overdoses kill 100,000 Americans each year. Alligators kill 1 person per year.(Range 1-4) Pay attention to the real threats in your life. Remember when you get in a car you have about a 1 in 107 chance of getting killed in your lifetime in a car crash. Around 46,000 Americans die each year in automobile accidents.

[Maker]

Originally Posted by Happydaz

...bees, wasps and hornets... dogs... Alcohol... overdoses... cars.

THIS thread is about alligators. It's not about deflecting the focus to other dangers. Perhaps start your own thread to discuss solutions to those other problems.
All sorts of things are made safer as new solutions are implemented once a problem is identified. Seat belts, child proof packaging, fall arrest harnesses, etc.
There is an identified problem. The most effective solution here is to get rid of every alligator.

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by Maker

THIS thread is about alligators. It's not about deflecting the focus to other dangers. Perhaps start your own thread to discuss solutions to those other problems.
All sorts of things are made safer as new solutions are implemented once a problem is identified. Seat belts, child proof packaging, fall arrest harnesses, etc.
There is an identified problem. The most effective solution here is to get rid of every alligator.

The identified problem is people making dangerous/foolish choices. To correct that you need to change people's behaviors. Alligators are not a risk to you or yours unless you or yours choose to put yourselves at risk. Don't make that choice.

[Happydaz]

Originally Posted by Maker

THIS thread is about alligators. It's not about deflecting the focus to other dangers. Perhaps start your own thread to discuss solutions to those other problems.
All sorts of things are made safer as new solutions are implemented once a problem is identified. Seat belts, child proof packaging, fall arrest harnesses, etc.
There is an identified problem. The most effective solution here is to get rid of every alligator.

Don’t agree with your solution. There are 5,000,000 alligators in the USA. To get rid of every alligator would be an enormous and extremely expensive undertaking. Your argument is emotionally charged and lacks rational thinking.