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Sly
07-27-2006, 19:38
And y'all thought you only had to worry about bears!

http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060727/NEWS01/60727060

StarLyte
07-27-2006, 20:07
Oh great - I see a path leading to it, next is visitors and tourists coming to feed it......before you know a film crew will be out there ......

Amigi'sLastStand
07-27-2006, 20:21
Harmless. Just dont feed em.

Alligator
07-27-2006, 22:32
Harmless. Just dont feed em.Can't a guy just get a little trail magic once in a while:D ?

blitz134
07-27-2006, 22:42
This is kinda awesome...and reminds me of a funny story that happened recently...

I was helping to lead a hiking trip with ORGT (GaTech's outdoor group) and we were heading up to the AT. We stopped by a chik-fil-a in the morning on the way up and the owner was there. He was a boistrous loud guy and started to tell us about a story of him having to change a spare tire on the side of the road in Louisiana and there were alligator signs around. And the he promptly told us to be careful of alligators over the weekend while we were hiking. Its been a running joke in my house (I live with many of our trip leaders who were also on the trip) about the Alligators in the mountains along the AT. So I guess the guy really knew what he was talking about. ;)

ed bell
07-27-2006, 22:57
Can't a guy just get a little trail magic once in a while:D ?The picture didn't look like a smoky backroom, maybe they didn't recognize you?:D

Amigi'sLastStand
07-28-2006, 04:31
Can't a guy just get a little trail magic once in a while:D ?
I only feed 'gators if they wear orange and blue, or if they live in the smoky back room. You'll be fine.:D

Old Hillwalker
07-28-2006, 07:22
We have had an absolute overwhelming abundance of Alligator Eggs in the Whites this past year or so. Check out www.viewsfromthetop.com to find out more about these little orbs of interest:D

jazilla
07-28-2006, 08:03
Holly gator bait Batman

Frolicking Dinosaurs
07-28-2006, 09:36
I blame global warming....









I'm kidding. A 3 foot alligator in the French Broad would have to be a pet that go away or was released. They need a temp of about 90F to grow and about 72F+ to survive longterm:
Alligators have been recorded to stop eating altogether when internal body temperature drops below 22 C (72 F). The problem with temperatures below the animal's PBT is it compromises the immune system and makes the animal more susceptible to stress and illness through bacterial or fungal diseaseSource:http://www.crocodilian.com/crocfaq/faq-4.html#5.2.1

Prosseroo
07-28-2006, 15:40
I was just on that same stretch of river a few days ago kayaking. What really surprised me about that river was how warm the water was. But anything is warm compared to the Nantahala that I had paddled the day before.

Brushy Sage
07-29-2006, 21:57
Whatever it is, it's not expected to survive the winter in the mountains.

Brushy Sage
07-31-2006, 16:48
The alligator has been caught. A cute little American alligator, with mouth now taped shut. See Asheville Citizen-Times article:

http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060731/PISGAHMOUNTAINNEWS/60731013

hikerjohnd
07-31-2006, 17:35
I agree with the released pet theory. Had the little bugger been found closer to the coast then I would be more likely to believe the gator was part of the slow northerly migration of gators. Apparently American alligators are slowly expanding their range along the eastern seaboard - but I doubt they will threated the AT anytime soon.