Comments on: Florida Gators Kill Two More

By: oldbutnotstupid

oldbutnotstupid — Sun, 13 Aug 2006 14:22:35 +0000

I love learning about reptiles. Have since I was a kid. This column is an education on gators from people who know them well. but one thing needs to be said. There are very few out of place gators that weren’t carried there by people sneaking a cute pet home. Gators grow up. So if you don’t know much about them, leave them where they are. They are not cute puppies or kittens, enough said.

By: scmarlowe

scmarlowe — Mon, 22 May 2006 13:21:25 +0000

Thanks, LongRifle, I made that prediction as to the how of the attack in a prior comment.

Thus, I rest my case.

By: longrifle48

longrifle48 — Sun, 21 May 2006 08:08:51 +0000

in the case of the jogger..it was mentioned in certain news updates,she was observed,by others as to have been dangling her feet,in the water and subsequently became gator happy meal..i have been close to many huge gators(taking pics)and have had the occasional one hiss and move towards me..this is thier domain and they did not invite me here..use common sense when in gator areas..duhhhh use the swimming pool!!

By: DWA

DWA — Tue, 16 May 2006 21:17:43 +0000

I should have added that the croc in question here is not only very rare — something that makes it an unlikely culprit right off the bat — but also a very different animal from, say, the Nile croc, the Asian mugger, and the Australian saltie, all of which consider people quite yum, thank you.

By: DWA

DWA — Tue, 16 May 2006 21:13:09 +0000

Oh, it’s well known that Florida has both crocs and gators. But gators are the culprit.

1. The folks that did the autopsies would certainly have considered the difference.

2. The areas in which these killings occurred do not, so far as is known, have crocs, which are only found at Florida’s southern tip.

3. Both crocs and gators are equally “violent” toward critters they’ve ID’d as prey. And gators are more likely than crocs to consider people as potential menu items.

4. There are tons — and tons — more big gators in FL than there are big crocs. (And in both species the big ones get about the same size.) The laws of chance greatly favor gators as the culprits, even if 1 through 3 didn’t cinch it.

It’s much more likely in my opinion, in fact certain, given the above, that gators did this. They have enjoyed very good times in Florida over several decades of hunting restrictions; both parties have gotten extremely comfortable with one another.

Which for neither party is a good idea.

By: TemplarKnight21c

TemplarKnight21c — Tue, 16 May 2006 19:52:53 +0000

What people seem to be failing to notice is that Florida is the only place in the world with both crocodiles and alligators. Isn’t it possible that a crocodile, or crocdiles, killed these people? It seems much more likely to me, as crocs are most definitely the more violent of the two species. They are also bigger, and less picky about what they pick off.

By: RHIANNON444

RHIANNON444 — Tue, 16 May 2006 14:50:23 +0000

Years ago, late 70’s a protected area in my home county was becoming overpopulated with smaller animals. The Fish and Game Commission of Mississippi County ARKANSAS introduced gator to Big Lake Swamp. We are just 70 miles NORTH of Memphis. The gators died out in a couple of years because we had worse than usual winters then.

This may go a ways to explain some of the sightings.

By: twblack

twblack — Tue, 16 May 2006 02:12:51 +0000

If the Gator is Hungry and you are in his Area guess what he is gonna try and eat you plain and simple. Any Dangerous animal needs to be shown respect when in you are around or in his area most will protect that area at all costs. That is usually not good for a hunam or a anything else that may wander in to his domain.

By: DWA

DWA — Mon, 15 May 2006 17:35:15 +0000

All agreed.

I just need to know about that jogger. ‘Cause if she was, unlikely as may be, seized while running by…what a video….!

OK, can’t get flip about the death of a wife, daughter, sister, mom, or none of the above (but daughter which she definitely was). It’s a sad story.

But it certainly doesn’t justify …not that I’m hearing such talk now…some kind of anti-gator campaign. This is what they are.

A world in which you need to keep your eyes peeled ’cause you ain’t at the top of the food chain is a happier, healthier, and yes, gentler world. Some rogue species just need to be reminded, is all.

By: scmarlowe

scmarlowe — Mon, 15 May 2006 17:26:38 +0000

Alligators are crocodilians, but have a much less aggressive nature than crocodiles. Crocs are much more of a danger.

As far as the jogger is concerned, I’ll bet an autopsy will show she was cooling her heels in a gator pond OR was killed on the path by some person and thrown in the water afterward.

All fresh kill is fresh meat, but not all predators eat it for sushi. Many, like gators, prefer their meat decayed somewhat and hide their kills until it ripens.

Ambient temperature is another factor. A cold gator is much less active than a hot one.