Alligators?

[Scubastud16]

That's not exactly accurate. Generally, gators will stay away, but there are lots of exceptions. A gator that's been fed is extremely dangerous to people. If a dog is nearby, gators are extremely dangerous. Lots of folks with your belief have been killed and/or eaten by gators over the years.

Don't get me wrong, I've never gone to play with the alligators. I'm an intelligent person when it comes to animals and their behavior.

I have never gone diving or swimming (or whatever aquatic method you choose) with alligators, while not being around a boat. Power boats scare them away. I was fortunate enough to waterski in a fantastic lake that just happened to be full of alligators for many years. We never once saw one within....100 yards of the boat or so. Maybe ever farther.

I'm not saying an alligator won't attack. Yes, alligators that have been "human socialized" (fed, interacted with, etc.) will be more dangerous than purely "wild" animals.

 

[Puffer Fish]

I must plead my ignorance here with respect to this particular reptile, but do gators normally feed on prey they find on land or in water? Or are they predators of opportunity?

the K-ator

I know they eat birds, dogs, cats and really big turtles, oh and the occasional human. I have seen maybe 5 or 6 attacks, and all have been at the edge of the water, grabbing something out of the water. Don't know if this is normal or that they also take things in the water. Never seen the turtles being eaten, but seen them clear out a pond of them very quickly. Have seen an alligator let a egret pick bugs off of it while sunning itself, and later eat the same bird when it came down to the edge of the pond it was hiding in... in general they seem to avoid most human contact, but there have been enough people eaten to say that is not always true.

 

[DennisW]

I've seen (and heard) a turtle being taken. Sounded like a shotgun going off when the shell was crushed. Very interesting to say the least. I try to leave Alligators alone. I feel if I don't bother them, they won't bother me. Feeding wild gators is not only stupid, it's illegal.

When I was at The University of Florida, there was a guy there we called "Gator Man". He used to swim with the gators in Lake Alice. I don't think he ever got hurt, but he did have a long wooden pole to push them back if they got close. He also got the heck out of the water if the gators began to get aggressive. I think he was nuts.

 

[DonWinchester]

I'm glad I could provide an entertaining opportunity for you folks.

Thanks for the info? If their hunting method is to drown their prey, I'm beginning to believe I'm safer diving with them than walking up on one. But I'm not sure how reassuring all this will be to my wife.

 

[Walter]

When I was at The University of Florida, there was a guy there we called "Gator Man". He used to swim with the gators in Lake Alice. I don't think he ever got hurt, but he did have a long wooden pole to push them back if they got close. He also got the heck out of the water if the gators began to get aggressive. I think he was nuts.

He didn't actually swim with them, he waded in shallow water. He squatted down so his face was at water level. He did this for his studies of Alligators. The long wooden pole wasn't all that long, it was a broom stick.

 

[DennisW]

There was some video of him on some Nature show or something similar. I still think he was nuts.

 

[Walter]

I saw it.

 

[Crazy Fingers]

In the past I have hunted off lottery permits and will not comment on other activity with gators. I will say that if you feel the urge to "screw" with them, please take video so that we can all enjoy your pain. Your claims seem like buffoonery to me.

Joe

You know what? You're right. Alligators are DEADLY. In fact, if you can see it, it could KILL YOU! If you can't see it, it's already trying to kill you.

So the safest course of action is to stay out of every river, lake, pond, stream, spring, and estuary in the state of Florida. In fact, you probably aren't even safe in your own neighborhood. I therefore suggest that all you Yankees go back north and let me and my buffoonery handle the problem. Hurry, go on before any more of your foofoo dogs or bratty children are eaten!!

 

[427Dave]

You all are wrong, gator tastes more like bald eagle than chicken, oooppps

 

[dhampton82]

I allways thought that it had a hint of manattee in it.

But what do I know, I only eat dolphin