Gators
- Thread starter BamaRob
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BamaRob
Platinum Member
JoeR
Platinum Member
We have more gators then we used to...
When I was a kid, I used to swim in the lakes, fish, and walk through the swamps. I saw a gator or two, but not too many. This was in the late 70's early 80's and gator hunting almost wiped out the population. I think they banned the hunting in the early 70's. Well, the population has returned in full force. I now see gators in ponds, pools, swamp areas that are miles from lakes, etc... Overall, there are lots of gators now. I see them climb fences, dig under fences, etc... just to get some food. The most dangerous gators are the 6-8' ones. They are big enough to be real dangerous, and young enough to be stupid. The older 10' and up gators usually eat or kill their 6-8' competitors, but there are not enough large bull alligators to keep the population under control. Now there are so many gators, that they are leaving their natural habitat in search of homes. Development does cause humans to come in closer contact, but the bigger problem is the idiots that feed them. Some people go out to feed the birds bread at the lake, and the gators will come to eat too. They like bread and everything else people throw to them. The state needs to reconsider how their population control methods are working. I do like to eat gator tail, so maybe they will allow a little more hunting. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Joe
When I was a kid, I used to swim in the lakes, fish, and walk through the swamps. I saw a gator or two, but not too many. This was in the late 70's early 80's and gator hunting almost wiped out the population. I think they banned the hunting in the early 70's. Well, the population has returned in full force. I now see gators in ponds, pools, swamp areas that are miles from lakes, etc... Overall, there are lots of gators now. I see them climb fences, dig under fences, etc... just to get some food. The most dangerous gators are the 6-8' ones. They are big enough to be real dangerous, and young enough to be stupid. The older 10' and up gators usually eat or kill their 6-8' competitors, but there are not enough large bull alligators to keep the population under control. Now there are so many gators, that they are leaving their natural habitat in search of homes. Development does cause humans to come in closer contact, but the bigger problem is the idiots that feed them. Some people go out to feed the birds bread at the lake, and the gators will come to eat too. They like bread and everything else people throw to them. The state needs to reconsider how their population control methods are working. I do like to eat gator tail, so maybe they will allow a little more hunting. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Joe
JoeR
Platinum Member
We have more gators then we used to...
When I was a kid, I used to swim in the lakes, fish, and walk through the swamps. I saw a gator or two, but not too many. This was in the late 70's early 80's and gator hunting almost wiped out the population. I think they banned the hunting in the early 70's. Well, the population has returned in full force. I now see gators in ponds, pools, swamp areas that are miles from lakes, etc... Overall, there are lots of gators now. I see them climb fences, dig under fences, etc... just to get some food. The most dangerous gators are the 6-8' ones. They are big enough to be real dangerous, and young enough to be stupid. The older 10' and up gators usually eat or kill their 6-8' competitors, but there are not enough large bull alligators to keep the population under control. Now there are so many gators, that they are leaving their natural habitat in search of homes. Development does cause humans to come in closer contact, but the bigger problem is the idiots that feed them. Some people go out to feed the birds bread at the lake, and the gators will come to eat too. They like bread and everything else people throw to them. The state needs to reconsider how their population control methods are working. I do like to eat gator tail, so maybe they will allow a little more hunting. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Joe
When I was a kid, I used to swim in the lakes, fish, and walk through the swamps. I saw a gator or two, but not too many. This was in the late 70's early 80's and gator hunting almost wiped out the population. I think they banned the hunting in the early 70's. Well, the population has returned in full force. I now see gators in ponds, pools, swamp areas that are miles from lakes, etc... Overall, there are lots of gators now. I see them climb fences, dig under fences, etc... just to get some food. The most dangerous gators are the 6-8' ones. They are big enough to be real dangerous, and young enough to be stupid. The older 10' and up gators usually eat or kill their 6-8' competitors, but there are not enough large bull alligators to keep the population under control. Now there are so many gators, that they are leaving their natural habitat in search of homes. Development does cause humans to come in closer contact, but the bigger problem is the idiots that feed them. Some people go out to feed the birds bread at the lake, and the gators will come to eat too. They like bread and everything else people throw to them. The state needs to reconsider how their population control methods are working. I do like to eat gator tail, so maybe they will allow a little more hunting. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Joe
Gatorboy
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<font color="blue"> ( Development does cause humans to come in closer contact, but the bigger problem is the idiots that feed them. ) </font>
Ding Ding Ding ... I think you've nailed the answer with this statement.
Ding Ding Ding ... I think you've nailed the answer with this statement.
Gatorboy
Elite Member
- Joined
- Aug 5, 2001
- Messages
- 3,138
- Location
- Bel Air, MD
- Tractor
- Kubota M8950, Bobcat 873 SSL & Kubota ZD-331
<font color="blue"> ( Development does cause humans to come in closer contact, but the bigger problem is the idiots that feed them. ) </font>
Ding Ding Ding ... I think you've nailed the answer with this statement.
Ding Ding Ding ... I think you've nailed the answer with this statement.
dmccarty
Super Star Member
In the past if you heard about a Gator attack on Monday by the end of the week The Untold Story would come out where the "victim" had been feeding/playing with the gator.
These last three don't seem to fit that mold. One woman ran down and killed while she was jogging. Another while snorkling. And the third is a who knows.
I have seen people do very STUPID things with gators. Feeding gators is a misdomeaneor in FLA.
Three victims in one week is alot. And if the victims or someone had not been feeding the gators these attacks are unusual.
Unless things have changed, gators are still hunted in FLA. Not like they used to be but they are hunted but most likely not enough. And trappers will come out and get nuisence gators as well.
Later,
Dan
These last three don't seem to fit that mold. One woman ran down and killed while she was jogging. Another while snorkling. And the third is a who knows.
I have seen people do very STUPID things with gators. Feeding gators is a misdomeaneor in FLA.
Three victims in one week is alot. And if the victims or someone had not been feeding the gators these attacks are unusual.
Unless things have changed, gators are still hunted in FLA. Not like they used to be but they are hunted but most likely not enough. And trappers will come out and get nuisence gators as well.
Later,
Dan
dmccarty
Super Star Member
In the past if you heard about a Gator attack on Monday by the end of the week The Untold Story would come out where the "victim" had been feeding/playing with the gator.
These last three don't seem to fit that mold. One woman ran down and killed while she was jogging. Another while snorkling. And the third is a who knows.
I have seen people do very STUPID things with gators. Feeding gators is a misdomeaneor in FLA.
Three victims in one week is alot. And if the victims or someone had not been feeding the gators these attacks are unusual.
Unless things have changed, gators are still hunted in FLA. Not like they used to be but they are hunted but most likely not enough. And trappers will come out and get nuisence gators as well.
Later,
Dan
These last three don't seem to fit that mold. One woman ran down and killed while she was jogging. Another while snorkling. And the third is a who knows.
I have seen people do very STUPID things with gators. Feeding gators is a misdomeaneor in FLA.
Three victims in one week is alot. And if the victims or someone had not been feeding the gators these attacks are unusual.
Unless things have changed, gators are still hunted in FLA. Not like they used to be but they are hunted but most likely not enough. And trappers will come out and get nuisence gators as well.
Later,
Dan
JoeR
Platinum Member
In Florida, getting a hunting permit for alligators is by the lottery system. Very few people get to hunt gators.
I am not saying these people were feeding the gators when they were attacked. In general alligators lose their fear of humans when people feed them, and then attack people when they are hungry since humans become associated with feeding/food. That's why I call people who feed gators idiots, since they are creating a problem.
Joe
I am not saying these people were feeding the gators when they were attacked. In general alligators lose their fear of humans when people feed them, and then attack people when they are hungry since humans become associated with feeding/food. That's why I call people who feed gators idiots, since they are creating a problem.
Joe
JoeR
Platinum Member
In Florida, getting a hunting permit for alligators is by the lottery system. Very few people get to hunt gators.
I am not saying these people were feeding the gators when they were attacked. In general alligators lose their fear of humans when people feed them, and then attack people when they are hungry since humans become associated with feeding/food. That's why I call people who feed gators idiots, since they are creating a problem.
Joe
I am not saying these people were feeding the gators when they were attacked. In general alligators lose their fear of humans when people feed them, and then attack people when they are hungry since humans become associated with feeding/food. That's why I call people who feed gators idiots, since they are creating a problem.
Joe
