Gators in Florida

[webbie]

I went to visit my parents and also spent a week on the west coast. These gator photos are from Mykaa state park in Sarasota.
They were taken with an iphone 5 - to give you an idea of how close we were to it. There are lots of gators there and you can even kayak among them. Apparently, they are more scared of you than you of them.

 

[Fsappo]

Apparently. Did you put the "scared of humans" theory to the test?

 

[pma1123]

I took the bike ride through everglade natl park a couple years ago and was literally swerving around them on the asphalt sidewalk as they were out sunning themselves!
I was within 3ft of them. Close enough for me They're very fast for the first 10 feet...and the ones I encountered passed the 'scared of humans' test.

 

[webbie]

Apparently. Did you put the "scared of humans" theory to the test?

Not yet - but I will someday this winter.
I figure it this way - it's a state park and they have about 60 canoes and kayaks there and really push the rentals. Now...if anyone was even eaten or lost an arm, they'd likely have pulled the rentals.......

I've heard bad things about "lone" gators here and there (ate someone on Sannibel), but I think these have all the food they want in the river and swamps.

 

[Warm_in_NH]

They're reptiles, human, dog, duck, they will ultimately eat what they need to.
Lived in FL for years. Been close to many, never bothered by one, but there were occasionally stories on the news of the gator that ate a big dog, child, adult, etc....

I wouldn't let them stop me from kayaking, but I wouldn't swim with them. If you've ever had a reptile as a "pet" they're not like warm blooded creatures.

Cool to see living dinosaurs though!

 

[webbie]

Yeah, I draw the line at swimming. In fact, I don't like getting in any water south of about Virginia - between the snakes and the other things there is just too damn much life in that H2O

 

[Osage]

I took the bike ride through glacier park a couple years ago and was literally swerving around them on the asphalt sidewalk as they were out sunning themselves!
I was within 3ft of them. Close enough for me They're very fast for the first 10 feet...and the ones I encountered passed the 'scared of humans' test.

They live in Montana too?!

 

[Fsappo]

I had a photo of myself in Brazil..I'll find it. I was invited to fish with my brother and father in law. In a literal dug out canoe that sat about 3" above the water. Crocs longer than the canoe following us. These guys STOOD UP to cast. I was scared. Then I realized we were fishing for red bellied piranha. I don't think I came unfroze until we got back to shore. I did not test their theory of "Its ok gringo"

 

[blades]

Gringos fed to crocks and piranha, same leave natives alone.

 

[ironpony]

I have dove Cooper River with the gators. You only have to worry the 10 secs it takes to get in or out of the water. Once you are submerged they really do not care about you.

 

[ironpony]

also have dove the Caribbean with the sharks, rays, eels, barracuda. remember you are more likely to die driving to work than being attacked. it also makes a much better fireside story.

 

[bubbasdad]

I went to visit my parents and also spent a week on the west coast. These gator photos are from Mykaa state park in Sarasota.
They were taken with an iphone 5 - to give you an idea of how close we were to it. There are lots of gators there and you can even kayak among them. Apparently, they are more scared of you than you of them.
View attachment 143862 View attachment 143863 View attachment 143864 View attachment 143865

I've been there a couple of times. The rents live in Englewood, I visit there 3 or 4x per year. I've done the kayak thing, also the little tour boat they have.

 

[dougstove]

Years ago my wife and I visited Bull's Island off the South Carolina coast. It was a wonderful day.
We were walking along a path, when my wife noticed cute baby alligators, swimming around an old truck tire in the water...... oops.
Mama alligator, about 2 m from us.

 

[Ribcracker]

I confess to being an adrenaline junkie. I try to be good but had a serious relapse during our stay in Florida last winter. Canoeing the Myakka river turned out to be the thrill of a lifetime.
The boat launch on the river was busy so we decided to find a different spot to put in. Since we wanted to avoid other canoeists we drove a couple miles downriver then dragged the canoe down a bank. We had the river to ourselves here and it wasn't long before we floated into an area teeming with alligators. Some were skittish, some were bold, most were huge and intimidating.

The Myakka River State Park brochure warns canoists to stay away from the banks when coming around bends in the river. Alligators basking on the shore may attack in self-defense if you surprise them. And they've been known to attack small boats, particularly canoes. It's believed that alligators looking up from underwater may see a canoe and think it's another alligator. So they may attack the boat as a territorial defense.

The Myakka doesn't have much current so we drifted lazily while I photographed gators sunning on the banks. At one point while rounding a bend our canoe drifted within 10 feet of a giant basking pair. We were concerned about this but didn't want to alarm them with any sudden paddling movements. So I did what any adrenaline addicted photographer would do; switch the camera to "video" and record this close encounter. Because of potential danger, my hands were shaking and I couldn't hold the camera still. Nonetheless, I uploaded one of the clips to show what I mean.
See it here:

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An alligator that is surprised or alarmed by your approach may think that it's in danger. They become aggressive when they feel threatened. And those that don't show fear of humans are the ones you really have to watch out for since they are the most likely to attack. They can produce short bursts of speed on land that can take you by surprise if you're too close. We were.

Larger alligators can be the greatest threats because they're big enough to size you up as a potential meal. A full-grown alligator that is between 8 and 11 feet can weigh up to 1,000 pounds. But even though these behemoths can be threats to humans, they're still wary of us. They'd prefer to avoid interactions with people altogether.

They may attack because they're hungry, but that's not the usual reason. The main reason an alligator attacks a human is to protect its territory. An adult male is territorial during mating season. And a female with her young may attack if she feels there's a threat to her offspring.

There were 13 fatal alligator attacks in Florida between 2001 and 2007 as well as 88 serious injuries. (Wikipedia)

Chris was a real trooper during this episode and may even have enjoyed the thrill as much as I did. Well, maybe not.
We came home drained but happy. Dang, what an adventure!

 

[Fsappo]

Those will flip a canoe and kill you if they wanted. Scary! I wouldn't float past a gator that large on purpose unless I was in a decent sized boat and a loaded large cal. pistol.

 

[johnpma]

tastes just like chicken

webbie go over to Arnold's Meats and buy a package very tasty

 

[gzecc]

I have learned quite a bit watching "Gator Boys" about alligators. Crocadiles are quite another animal. Much more dangerous to humans.

 

[gzecc]

also have dove the Caribbean with the sharks, rays, eels, barracuda. remember you are more likely to die driving to work than being attacked. it also makes a much better fireside story.


View attachment 143942

Tell The Crocidile Hunter (Steve Erwin)

 

[ironpony]

with gators, the danger zone is 30 seconds getting in and 30 seconds getting out. They do not bite underwater