Alligators?

[Spider]

This is probably a stupid question, but being from Virginia and only having experience on the AT, wouldn't alligators be a problem in southern Florida?

[HiKen2011]

I love gator tail!!!!!!! Just kidding, well I do love Gator tail but I'm not sure, I suppose they could present a problem, but no more than any other animal I would think?:-?

[Luddite]

Are you talking about the southern portion on the Florida Trail? The part where you're wading through water?

[Ladytrekker]

I live in north Florida but spent about 10 years in south Florida. In Florida if there is fresh water there are alligators the size of the river, creek, pond or puddle doesn't matter there here. I have kayaked many of the rivers in Florida and alligators are prolific here.

However, if you are talking about hiking the Big Cypress I have not heard of any issues with problems with gators they see them also lots of moccassins in those waters. But many people hike that area without issues just use precautions. Most alligators don't deliberately come around people unless they are use to being fed by people which in Florida will sign that gators death warrant.

I personally am very careful where I swim I prefer clear water.

[bfayer]

I lived in Fl for 7 years, including 2 in the Keys. In south Florida, if there is water there are gators. As long as you keep the small kids and pets away, they will leave you alone. Snakes are a different story. I saw snakes I thought you had to travel the Amazon to run into :)

Just take a hiking stick and you will be fine.

By the way, blackened gator tail on a stick is um um good.

[Wise Old Owl]

You folks are kidding right? Gators are a non-issue. Cougars with small backpacks might be a bigger threat.

[JaxHiker]

Gators in Florida are a myth. Don't believe the lies the media tells you. On the other hand, I'd like to find me a cougar.

[lilricky]

I've run into a few gators on the trail, usually they're more scared of you than you are of them. A good trick, if they don't run off immediately seeing you, is to take a palm frond and toss it toward them. They think its a giant claw/hand and run for the hills, or in this case, the swamp.

[chiefiepoo]

Once upon a time, while hiking in Myakka State Park, a typically dry prarie was flooded with about a foot of water. Several small gators, < 5' were swimming about. Didn't seem to be bothered by us. Maybe they had just eaten elsewhere. Your noise will likely drive them off before you see them. But like bears, YMMV.

[Ladytrekker]

If they are orange and blue they are really good gators. chomp chomp

[lilricky]

If they are orange and blue they are really good gators. chomp chomp

If you start seeing blue and orange gators, time to lay off the local loco weed.... :)

[NerdyJohn]

I wouldn't mind running into a cougar with a small backpack. I large backpack would even be better! :welcome

[sheepdog]

This is probably a stupid question, but being from Virginia and only having experience on the AT, wouldn't alligators be a problem in southern Florida?
they are often a problem in the most unlikely places ;)

[Ladytrekker]

If you start seeing blue and orange gators, time to lay off the local loco weed.... :)

LOL I could have used that this year my gators didn't play so well. But there is always next year.

[gunner76]

Gators are not a problem. They think humans taste like chicken.

[Trail Bug]

Sorry- I just HAD to post it!9854

[LoneRidgeRunner]

If they are orange and blue they are really good gators. chomp chomp

Dang..roll one of those for me....LOL...

[sheepdog]

Sorry- I just HAD to post it!9854
thats not a gator its a crock :D

[Lone Wolf]

gators http://web.archive.org/web/20011018225531/hobocentral.com/SwampDaze2001.asp

[chiefiepoo]

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs279.snc1/10629_1111897606963_1512578421_30242606_5658792_n. jpg (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=30257352&id=1512578421)

[bfayer]

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs279.snc1/10629_1111897606963_1512578421_30242606_5658792_n. jpg (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=30257352&id=1512578421)

Now that's the Florida I know and love :)

By the way, if you ever get way down south, they have a few crocodiles down there too. They are not all warm and snugly like the alligators are, so if you see one, give it a wide berth. You can tell the diff because the crocs have a narrow pointy snout and buggy eyes.

[Dogwood]

A large alligator CAN become a problem if a small dog, small child or ignorant human acting in a risky/wreckless way are involved.

[Dogwood]

When I was new to FL, and very alligator ignorant, I waded more than waist deep into the Hillsborough River in Hillsborough River SP to fish(of all things). As I was happily fishing enjoying the sunny day someone yelled out from the bank, "you know there are large alligators in this river?" I shrugged it off thinking it was a joke. Within a few minutes after that person told me that a 9 ft alligator, totally capable of drowning and killing me, swam by on the surface less than 20 ft from me! I stood motionless while standing more than waist deep in the dark tanin stained water hoping that the gator had not noticed me as it passed by. From that day forward I intimately understood what was meant when it is said humans are not at the top of the food chain. I also learned to arm myself with respect for/knowledge of those animals and understand how my behavior effects the relationship I have with those animals AND that I needed to have if I was to coexist with those animals. Later, I found out from a Park Ranger that just 3 wks previously a young girl had been dragged into the water while playing along the water's edge and killed, by an even larger gator!

[Walkintom]

That must have been a long time ago; I don't recall anyone being attacked by a gator at HSP.

[bfayer]

That must have been a long time ago; I don't recall anyone being attacked by a gator at HSP.

I remember one around 2000/2001 but might not have been in Hillsborough, might have been Lakeland,

Like I said small kids and pets. But the same thing can be said of Pitbulls,and I don't see anyone worrying about them.

[Wise Old Owl]

file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/WINDOW%7E1/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-2.pnghttp://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b253/mware/0412070922_M_041207_croc-1.jpg

[bfayer]

file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/WINDOW%7E1/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-2.pnghttp://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b253/mware/0412070922_M_041207_croc-1.jpg

That my friend is a Croc not a Gator. But point well taken :)

[Wise Old Owl]

Disarming isn't it?



http://jerrybrice.wordpress.com/2009/10/11/alligator-eats-s-c-golfers-arm/

[Dogwood]

Mid 80's WalkingTom. They did remove that Lg alligator, that killed that little girl, before my "fishing trip" and I believe they even closed the park for a short time right after the incident occurred. I was living in Tampa attending USF at the time. I learned of all this AFTER my "fishing trip."

Florida Fish and Game Officials do make note of and, if they feel it necessary, remove/relocate LG or aggressive alligators from human occupied areas. Sometimes, and very often, aggressive alligators have become that way due to human related activity or being habituated to humans.

American alligators don't do too much and they really aren't all that sociable of a species. They bask, laze, look to investigate, eat, sleep, and occasionally reproduce. They don't eat when it gets very cold as their digestive system virtually shuts down putrifying the food contents in their stomachs if they were to eat. Their brains are smaller than a walnut too.

Anyone see that Faces Of Death scene where Florida Fish and Game officials are attempting to remove a LG gator from a pond while standing in a boat? They try lassoing the gator and the warden gets yanked into the water only to be thrashed by the gator. Grizzly scene about what not to do with alligators.