Alligators, boar, in Freeport??? Help a newbie

[Chiofam]

Okay, you may laugh if you want. I am a newbie to the area. We've been to the area a handful of times, and are moving permanently next month. We live within walking distance of the Choctawatchee Bay (forgive spelling). I've heard rumors that alligators sometimes swim in there and will come out and EAT YOUR DOG!!!!!!!! Bear with me, I'm from Ohio where we have nothing much to fear but poison ivy. We have a Puggle who is quite loved by our 3 boys. Speaking of which, should I be concerned about my children, ages 6, 10, 11? I'm also concerned about the wild boar, and poisonous snakes. We are on a rather unpopulated street, and I'm terrified to let my children out to play. Someone told us to get a cat and keep it outside and it will keep the snakes away. Wont the snakes just bite it? Can someone either put my mind at ease, or tell me how concerned I should be? I don't want to be paranoid, but also don't want to be naive.

[ladyj]

The coyotes will eat the cat.

[Chiofam]

Will the coyotes eat my dog?

[BlueFox181]

Bigfoot might.

[30A Skunkape]

Bigfoot might.

You mean skunkapes. And yes, coyotes will eat anything they can kill, as will bobcats. Cats are faster than snakes but I don't know how good they are at repelling them. I wouldn't worry about gators in the bay too much.

[Here4Good]

When we moved to Freeport, our neighbors (in an established bayfront neighborhood) told us quite honestly that they had seen alligators come up into the bayou and creek. Since we moved to Sowal, we learned the hard way about coyotes and pets.

And as for the snakes....well, that's just a given. That's not just a problem around here, we had them in Georgia, too. They'll get in the garage, the screen porch, up under the deck. Just be careful, and learn which ones are the really harmful ones. It's not like you have to walk around with a .22 or anything, just be alert.

It's also just not a good idea to let any pet run wild. Cats get eaten by coyotes, dogs get into fights with other wild animals (or, if they are cute or valuable, get stolen) and all of them live longer when they are protected. It's easy to forget that we are part of a wildlife corridor that stretches unbroken pretty much to Alabama. The east end of the bay is a really unpopulated, and to the north is Eglin which is 700,000 acres of little but woods.

[BlueFox181]

Scary looking things! I saw a pic on wikipedia... let's hope it stays in the Everglades

[beachmouse]

The boars are much more likely to trash your landscaping than to want to interact with humans in any way.

[kurt]

Worry more about car accidents.

Alligators are shy, especially the ones in SoWal. Unless someone has been feeding them, then they lose their fear of people and animals. But then again, they aren't a problem until the feeding stops and they get hungry.

Boars and snakes also don't like people and will go the other way unless you drop out of a tree on top of them then they might bite.

You're right about Ohio - nothing to fear there, especially Buckeyes.

[scooterbug44]

Don't reach your hand into the bushes, don't feed or irritate wildlife, and keep a general eye on your pets and children and you'll be just fine.

[Smiling JOe]

The coyotes will eat the cat.

Last night, I saw a Coyote which was about the size of a big cat. They are fairly small around here.

[Smiling JOe]

Worry more about car accidents.



Boars and snakes also don't like people and will go the other way unless you drop out of a tree on top of them then they might bite.

I have at least two snakes living in my yard (or, maybe I'm living in their yard -- I'm not sure about which is correct) and they speed off every morning when I get near them.

Kurt is right -- worry about getting into a crash. Don't drive and text message at the same time.

[kurt]

Kurt is right -- worry about getting into a crash. Don't drive and text message at the same time.

Just wait until guys are rushing to the store for more beer while watching sports on their phones and their team fumbles the ball or the batter strikes out. It will be worse than women driving while talking on their cell phones and applying makeup.

[NoHall]

I tell my landscaping clients to get a cat to help with snakes.

Cats will kill snakes in a pinch, and are usually smart enough to stay away from the sharp end. They usually only get bitten when the cat & snake surprise each other.

The benefit of a cat (one that is kept indoors at night) is that they eat the snakes' food. If the cat is keeping the mouse/mole/chipmunk/rat population thin, the snakes won't linger.

If you see any sort of non-poisonous black snake hanging around, let it stay. They're territorial. You won't have a black snake on the same property as a rattlesnake, copperhead, moccasin, etc..

[Chiofam]

Oh, what about bears? A lady at the airport told my husband that a bear has been going through her fence and eating her trash every night? Gators and boars and bears, oh my!!

[beachmouse]

There are a fair number of black bears in the area because there's a lot of very good bear habitat. But for the most part, they stay away from populated areas. The ones that get dubbed 'nuisance bears' for chronically causing problems with the humans get trapped, drugged, and taken the the national forest over by Appalachicola because they're less likely to continue to mix with humans over there.

[Smiling JOe]

I tell my landscaping clients to get a cat to help with snakes.

Cats will kill snakes in a pinch, and are usually smart enough to stay away from the sharp end. They usually only get bitten when the cat & snake surprise each other.

The benefit of a cat (one that is kept indoors at night) is that they eat the snakes' food. If the cat is keeping the mouse/mole/chipmunk/rat population thin, the snakes won't linger.

If you see any sort of non-poisonous black snake hanging around, let it stay. They're territorial. You won't have a black snake on the same property as a rattlesnake, copperhead, moccasin, etc..

and the good thing about the cat is if it gets killed by the snake, you can always get another kitty for free from someone.

The Garter Snake and the black snakes (I cannot tell if it is an Indigo or a Racer -- he is too fast at slithering away) in my yard stay a good 15 yards apart from each other.

[Smiling JOe]

Oh, what about bears? A lady at the airport told my husband that a bear has been going through her fence and eating her trash every night? Gators and boars and bears, oh my!!

Again, keep it in perspective. We've had several people die on the short stretch of Hwy 331 between hwy 98 and hwy 20 in the last 5 years, in vehicle crashes, but not one reported Bear, Boar, or Gator bite (attack) in Walton County during the same period. You might also be more likely to get killed by a dog bite, according to statistics.

[dbuck]

OMG! I don't think y'all are making her feel any safer.

[Smiling JOe]

OMG! I don't think y'all are making her feel any safer.

I guess it has been a while since you have driven in Atlanta. We may have had some auto deaths over the years, but not nearly what they have in Atlanta. Same for dog attacks.

[dbuck]

I guess it has been a while since you have driven in Atlanta. We may have had some auto deaths over the years, but not nearly what they have in Atlanta. Same for dog attacks.

What does Atlanta traffic have to do with Alligators, boar, snakes, and bears? I realize more people are killed in auto accidents than by alligators.

[Smiling JOe]

What does Atlanta traffic have to do with Alligators, boar, snakes, and bears?

absolutely nothing. I was thinking that this was the SoWaller looking to move down from Atlanta. -- I must be in need of a nap.

[dbuck]

absolutely nothing. I was thinking that this was the SoWaller looking to move down from Atlanta. -- I must be in need of a nap.

You almost hurt my feelings.

[native]

Dbuck, so YOU are the one in charge of the Atlanta Traffic. I have been lookin for you forever. I have some bones to pick with you. But really Chiofam just good ole country caution will keep you safe here. I love in Pt Washington and have three dogs all under 13 lbs. I put up a good fence and never let them wander. But i hear coyote almost every night having a frenzy out in the woods. Does it scare me. No. They are in the woods where they belong and not in my yard. They stay on their turf and i stay on mine.

[Smiling JOe]

i hear coyote almost every night having a frenzy out in the woods. Does it scare me. No. They are in the woods where they belong and not in my yard. They stay on their turf and i stay on mine.

The one I almost hit lastnight was on the bridge of Western Lake, heading toward WaterColor.

[Duchess of SRB]

I have a wonderful wild boar recipe passed down for generations through the family.

[NoHall]

and the good thing about the cat is if it gets killed by the snake, you can always get another kitty for free from someone.

And the good thing about living in Florida is that if the kitty eats the snake, you can always find another snake...

[Jdarg]

The one I almost hit lastnight was on the bridge of Western Lake, heading toward WaterColor.

And I have seen a coyote around the corner from Cerulean's, skulking around a porch.

I would give an approximate size, but nobody ever believes me when I report wild animal sizes.

[NoHall]

Throw 'em all in Oyster Lake to Hop's Serpent. Or to the 24-foot Gator in Eastern (or was it Western?) Lake. It'll be like a Japanese movie.

[Hop]

saw a coyote and a fox on the way home tonight...both on 30-A...

[psudon]

I was standing on the 1st tee at Santa Rosa Golf Club on wednesday at 1:30 when a bear about 500 lbs ran acroos the ninth green. I am not joking!

[NoHall]

I'm pretty sure that Sasquatch lives somewhere in my trashy neighbor's yard.

[30gAy]

The boars are much more likely to trash your landscaping than to want to interact with humans in any way.

I'm far more terrified of the occasional bore that you will encounter from time to time at the local watering holes.

One can only tolerate so many herniated disk stories................

[DD]

I'm far more terrified of the occasional bore that you will encounter from time to time at the local watering holes.

One can only tolerate so many herniated disk stories................

[Smiling JOe]

[Jdarg]

Uh hum. Is that my 24 ft. gator?

[Smiling JOe]

no, it's a different one.

[NoHall]

no, it's a different one.

Is that the one that ate the guy on the machine?

[Chiofam]

Ahhh!!! I assume he is a local? Where was the picture taken? Just curious. Thanks

[Sbremer]

saw a coyote and a fox on the way home tonight...both on 30-A...

Got any PICS???
__________________________________________

[Smiling JOe]

Ahhh!!! I assume he is a local? Where was the picture taken? Just curious. Thanks

Yes, it's a local gator. The picture was taken from my canoe.

[florida girl]

This post is hilarious! Haven't heard anything about the Wild Bobcat, Water Moccasin, Diamond Back Rattlesnake, Pigmy Rattler, Black Widow, Brown Recluse, Yellow Jackets, Tiger Mosquitoes, Yellow Flies, Biting Dog Flies, Coral Snakes, Fire Ants, Devils Cane, Poison Ivy, Poison Sumac, to name a few. All of which have detrimental effects to some degree! Not too speak of the heat, humidity, and mildew!

[NoHall]

I think I just cancelled my trip down there...

[florida girl]

Almost forgot, that's just on land! Lots of Sharks of numerous kinds, Stingrays, Jellyfish, crabs...

[DD]

I think I just cancelled my trip down there...

Awwwww, NoHall....you can do it!! Dont' let a little wildlife skeer ya!

[NoHall]

Awwwww, NoHall....you can do it!! Dont' let a little wildlife skeer ya!

There's just so MUCH of it!

[DD]

There's just so MUCH of it!

Florida=Land O' Plenty

[Smiling JOe]

There's just so MUCH of it!

Not to worry too much, because all of these things come out only twice a year -- May and October.

[Miss Kitty]

Not to worry too much, because all of these things come out only twice a year -- May and October.

NoHall...you forgot to list one of my favorite wildlife spottings...Mrs. Hop on the dance floor.

[NoHall]

NoHall...you forgot to list one of my favorite wildlife spottings...Mrs. Hop on the dance floor.

Isn't she wonderful?