Killer Alligators
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Alligators - Not What I'd Chose for a Backyard Pet
I was apprehensive about alligators when I first moved to Florida. After learning more about them, my fears were calmed. I grew used to seeing one cruise past in the lake behind my home or to spot one sunning itself on the golf course. Although I kept a respectful distance, I admit to being rather nonchalant about the presence of this toothy giant reptile.
Then in just a few months, a number of Florida residents were attacked and killed by alligators. That led me to study further about how common was it for an alligator to attack a human.
(alligator in my backyard - photo I took with my Canon SX20 IS)
Then in just a few months, a number of Florida residents were attacked and killed by alligators. That led me to study further about how common was it for an alligator to attack a human.
(alligator in my backyard - photo I took with my Canon SX20 IS)
Contents at a Glance
- Golfers - Use Caution around Alligators
- A Sampling of Sites Where a Person Was K...
- A Man Lost His Arm in this Alligator Att...
- Oldest Person Killed by an Alligator in...
- Learn More about Alligators
- How Many People Are Actually Killed by A...
- Alligator Attacks in the News
- Youngest Person Killed by an Alligator i...
- Don't Do This
Golfers - Use Caution around Alligators
Alligator With Golfball Print by GrandmaDee
See other Alligator Posters
We played golf with someone recently who told us a scary story. In a previous round, he had hit his ball into the water near an alligator. Thinking he could fish it out with his long ball retriever, he approached and reached towards the ball with the retriever while keeping an eye on the adjacent alligator. This was his first mistake, as most alligators will dive into the water as you approach and take off. This one didn't. That should have been a warning to him.
Instead, the alligator grabbed the end of the ball retriever in its mouth. For some silly reason, the golfer pulled on the long stick hoping the gator would let go. They played tug-of-war for a few seconds. Off to the side, the golfer's wife was yelling at him to drop the stick and get back. At that point, the alligator started towards the man. Both were still holding on to opposite ends of the ball retriever. He said the alligator was sort of growling by now.
Realizing that this wasn't going the way he expected, the man started backing up. In his haste, he tripped and fell. The alligator was still advancing. Fortunately for the golfer, his wife stomped on the gas pedal of the golf cart heading it towards the gator. That was enough to cause the creature to turn and head for the lake.
The moral of this story is pretty obvious to me. Let the alligator keep the ball, and the golfer can drop a new one from a safe distance. It's actually in the golfing rules that you don't have to take a penalty stroke under such circumstances.
A Sampling of Sites Where a Person Was Killed by an Alligator
A Man Lost His Arm in this Alligator Attack
I remember when this happened and followed the accounts in the Orlando Sentinel. The victim was high on crack cocaine and waded into a large urban lake at night. Residents nearby heard his screams and called police who managed to rescue him from the alligator. He lost his arm and had other serious bites.
curated content from YouTube
Oldest Person Killed by an Alligator in the U.S.
83 year old woman
Caution
How Many People Are Actually Killed by Alligators?
- List of fatal alligator attacks in the United States by decade - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- This is a list of fatal alligator attacks that occurred in the United States in reverse chronological order by decade
Alligator Attacks in the News
News from Google
- Aquarium worker recovering from alligator bite
- An employee with the NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores was recovering at home Wednesday after being bitten by an alligator. The victim, who name has not been released, responded Tuesday to a call about an alligator found along US 70 in the Stacy ...
- South Florida fishing report
- By Steve Waters, Staff Writer Lots of bass were biting spinnerbaits, swimbaits, plastic stick worms and live shiners around the outside grass lines. Bass fishing is slow with all the water being moved in the Everglades. The best bite has been at ...
- Scientist bitten by alligator: What was he thinking?
- don't take this personally, but i may have been more comfortable inhe ditch with the alligator than i am right now. >> fred , this is going to be a lot easier, let me tell you, because i don't bite. >> let's talk first about how you're doing. i know ...
- Take a hike: Saturday is National Trails Day
- They bite right through it." The refuge also is sponsoring an indoor program at 1 pm Saturday, to help you identify animals even when they're not still there. Called Animal Tracking 101, the short (30 to 45 minutes) illustrated lecture will teach you ...
Youngest Person Killed by an Alligator in the U.S.
a 2 year old girl
Don't Do This
Dumb Things People Do with Alligators
and crocodiles
*Two of these are professional performers who work with alligators or crocodiles.
* In the case of the teenager who lost his arm, he was swimming across an irrigation canal in Florida. Not something I would do.
* In the fourth video, the men are in kayaks and tossing food to an alligator in Illinois. Obviously this is an ex-pet alligator to be in that locale. Alligators that have been fed by humans lose their fear and are more likely to attack.
* In the fifth video, the man works for an alligator farm and is collecting eggs from a nest. Afterwards he provokes the alligator by repeatedly crowding it with his boat. Foolish behavior.
* In the case of the teenager who lost his arm, he was swimming across an irrigation canal in Florida. Not something I would do.
* In the fourth video, the men are in kayaks and tossing food to an alligator in Illinois. Obviously this is an ex-pet alligator to be in that locale. Alligators that have been fed by humans lose their fear and are more likely to attack.
* In the fifth video, the man works for an alligator farm and is collecting eggs from a nest. Afterwards he provokes the alligator by repeatedly crowding it with his boat. Foolish behavior.
curated content from YouTube
Alligator Attacks Can Be Avoided
- How to Avoid an Alligator Attack | eHow.com
- Alligators are indigenous to warm, tropical, swampy climates. Although fatal attacks on humans are rare, you should know how to keep yourself safe from attack if you venture into these climes. Follow the tips on this site to stay safe.
- Matt Hansen: Photographing the American Alligator
- Get some tips for photographing alligators safely.
- How to Swim In Alligator Country | eHow.com
- Personally I swim only in swimming pools, not lakes or rivers in Florida. If you live in areas where alligators exist, swimming can be an exercise in survival skills if you are not careful. Every year, people are killed by alligators, and most of those deaths could have been prevented with some simple safety steps. Knowing how to swim in ...
- Florida Alligator Laws | eHow.com
- Alligators are a fact of life for people living in Florida due to the favorable environment for the reptiles. They live anywhere that there is water and, though they keep mainly to the lakes, ponds, rivers and swamps, you may also encounter them in salt water. Learn what laws govern interaction with alligators.
Warning
Can You Outrun an Alligator?
Alligators Can't Read Sign 1 by rickubis
Browse Alligator T-Shirts
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ngio64 May 9, 2012 @ 5:04 am | delete
- I live in Florida and we were at a birthday party for a 7 year old. Someone came and said they were catching an alligator 2 blocks away. Everyone went to watch. the gator was caught when we got there. The kids got a close look at it. It was too large to relocate so the alligator guy was going to "harvest it" for the meat and skin. That is how the nuisance alligator catchers get paid. Nothing for gators under 5 feet, allowed to sell the meat and skin of the larger ones. They do not charge the public or get state dollars.
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Evelyn_Saenz
May 5, 2012 @ 9:32 pm | delete
- Squid Angel Blessed! :) and Thanks for linking to my Alligator Pie Unit Study lens.
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Evelyn_Saenz
May 5, 2012 @ 9:30 pm | delete
- Having lived within walking distance from the Everglades I too calmed down from my initial fear of alligators but after reading this lens, I am glad to be back home in Vermont. No fear of alligators here. :)
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BiminiBahamas
Apr 22, 2012 @ 8:40 am | delete
- They sure can't read signs and they really do cross the roads to get to the other side!
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Terrie_Schultz
Apr 13, 2012 @ 9:45 pm | delete
- Glad I don't live in Florida!
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scarlettohairy Apr 13, 2012 @ 8:05 pm | delete
- I love it: Alligators can't read. Doh! I would steer clear of these guys for sure.
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thooghun
Nov 16, 2011 @ 12:42 am | delete
- I'm officially creeped out by crocs. Urgh. Cute though!
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Cinnamonbite
Jul 9, 2011 @ 10:13 am | delete
- Yeah. Ain't nuthin' like canoeing on Lake Jesup to make you respect a gator. Especially when you see one take a wild boar off the shoreline a few feet from you.
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NHgal
Apr 18, 2011 @ 11:57 am | delete
- Took me three trips to FL in the 80's to see my first alligator. Since them I've seen many of them in FL while out kayaking. We're usually disappointed if we don't see one then. But we're cautious. We have a friend who lost his arm to an alligator when swimming in a FL lake 30 years ago. Nice lens about them.
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ChrisDay
Apr 17, 2011 @ 9:05 pm | delete
- Gripping lens - thanks. I don't have 'gators round here and you can keep 'em. I wouldn't want to have to test the theory but I believe they have weak muscles to open the jaw, so the trick is apparently to keep an attacking alligator's mouth shut!
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JoanneOtt
Apr 17, 2011 @ 8:41 pm | delete
- I certainly wouldn't approach or try to fight with one. It must be horrible to be attacked by one.
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rms Mar 24, 2010 @ 5:21 pm | delete
- I agree they are interesting but keep 'em out of my backyard! :)
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aidenw
Mar 22, 2010 @ 10:01 pm | delete
- I like alligators. They are fascinating animals. We have some here in Texas but not nearly as many as you do in Florida. It's amazing that you have one in your backyard.
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Ilovemusicgirl
Mar 22, 2010 @ 4:53 pm | delete
- Nice one, gators are very interesting
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WildFacesGallery
Mar 22, 2010 @ 9:13 am | delete
- Another great lens. 5* Sad that people make out the animals as bad or evil though. They are what they are.
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by Virginia Allain
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I'm Virginia Allain, a retired librarian. Now I devote myself to writing, photography and designing books to self-publish. Having fun!
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More about Killer Alligators
book available from Amazon
Killer Gators and Crocs: Gruesome Encounters from Across the Globe
Amazon Price: $0.01 (as of 06/01/2012)
Don't Be a Victim
Animals ATTACK! - Alligators
Amazon Price: $5.84 (as of 06/01/2012)
