Western Lake (Grayton) -- Alligator caught!

wow...anyone for a swim?

FYI -- that one was the medium sized one. I think the X-Large one is still reported to be running around. SNAP!

I thought they didn't trap them unless they were a nuisance, or was this one a nuisance?

Unfortunately, because some folks have been feeding the alligators on the shores of the lake in Grayton, several of the alligators are now domesticated and approaching people standing on the shoreline. A dometicated gator is a nuisance. Feeding alligators is a crime in the state of Florida, and it would be nice if the warning signs, available on the nuisance alligator website, were posted along the lake to discourage people from turning this into a fun activity to do with the kids.

Personally, I'd rather see the people who are feeding the gators prone and hog-tied with their mouths taped closed. They are the true nuisance.

From what I understand from several home owners on the Lake, this particular gator has been very aggressive and supposedly he killed the two smaller gators. Of course it is mating season and they get very territorial, and the small two didn't seem to be scared of anything. They would swim right up to you, looking for food.

Since it was a fun activity for both the construction workers and tourists/visitors to "feed the gators" off the Watercolor pier I am not at all shocked that a wild animal had to be relocated because it lost its fear of humans.

So sad, but glad he got relocated instead of kilt!

Relocated is a euphemism. Feeding alligators and rendering them fearless of humans is tantamount to giving them a death sentence. Those gators are fancy belts and alligator on a stick at a state fair now.

Thanks for the info. Does anybody know why it's illegal to feed gators in Florida?

Years ago there weren't the signs and fences protecting the gators from the public (yes I typed that correctly). Alligators are ancient small minded creatures left over from the dinosaur age. They don't understand things that mammals do like no, stop, or done. If they are being fed and they are still hungry it is an instictual nature that drives them and it can't be over ridden by training.

It used to be common for people to throw scraps to the alligators and many people just fed them since it was fascinating. The one that changed the law was a little old lady in Wakulla county who went down once a week to St. Marks and fed the alligators. She took her little poodle with her since it enjoyed the outdoors. One day she was feeding the alligators and one decided it wasn't done. It came out of the water and chased the woman, the poodle being her companion attempted to protect her. I'll spare you the details, but needless to say the poodle lost. The elderly lady sued the state of Florida for lack of signage that this would happen. Thus the signs that I have seen my entire life warning not to feed the gators. In areas that had a lot of gators fences were erected to prevent, even the stupid, from being attacked or eaten. Unfortunately I have never seen one of these signs on a coastal dune lake despite the presence of alligators.

Remember they can run short distances at 35-40 mph. During mating season they are extremely territorial. If a gator is hissing you are too close and need to leave immediately, although it is usually too late at that point. ;-)

I can honestly say that in all my almost 54 years on earth that I have never entertained the idea of feeding an alligator. :blink:

gayboi, we don't need signs for the stupid. Nature will take care of them, and it is a proven fact that most people don't read the signs, or either they ignore them after reading them. Although, the State Parks are in the process of making and posting some nature stops along the trails and lakes, which are being used to educate people about the environment and nature along the trails and lakes. Maybe they could incorporate some "feeding the gator" info on a few of the ones around the lakes. I seem to recall seeing one on alligators posted on the north side of Western Lake, but I don't remember it having anything about feeding them. I'll have to look again.

Yes, when a gator is hissing at you, it is best to back up slowly and get the heck out of dodge, but it isn't too late. Most gators which haven't been around people, don't want anything to do with people, and their nature isn't to eat people, at least not healthy living adults. The males do get very territorial in mating season and the momma gators get very protective of their nests and their babies, but Mocking Birds have more of a tendency to strike at people than do gators.

I can honestly say that in all my almost 54 years on earth that I have never entertained the idea of feeding an alligator. :blink:

You're a vacationing anomaly - you also can navigate 30-A w/o blue signs and pick up your trash/belongings from the beach. 😀

Here's the sign I was looking for:

I like the signs at the public ramp on Tyndall, which reads something like,
Danger:
Rip Currents, Sharks, Alligators, Explosives!
Use extreme caution.

The pic I tossed in is a sign in the Blackwater River state park. Not 100 yards from this sign is a swimming hole on the river full of people. :shock:

Alligator bites off arm of late-night swimmer in Okeechobee

BY KEONA GARDNER |Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers June 24, 2008

Okeechobee - Kasey Edwards said he never paid "too much mind" to alligators swimming in canals in Okeechobee County.

But early Sunday morning, an 11?-foot alligator had his full attention as Edwards, 18, struggled to free his left arm from the jaws of the reptile.

"It's a very surreal feeling. You know, feeling like you're about to die here and you know, praying to God," Edwards said. "I have to give all the credit to God for keeping me out there."

He got away with his life and the gator with his left arm.

On Monday evening, Edwards was in fair condition at Holmes Regional Medical Center in Melbourne with his arm severed about 3 to 4 inches above the elbow. Today, Edwards said, he will have surgery. He hopes to be out of the hospital by the weekend.

At 2:21 a.m. Sunday, Edwards was hanging out with friends on Nubbin Slough in Okeechobee County when he told them he was going to swim across a 25-foot-deep canal, according to an Okeechobee County Sheriff's Office report.

Edwards had been drinking alcoholic beverages earlier and may have been impaired, according to witnesses quoted in the report. His friends tried to persuade him not to do it, the report states.

Halfway through the swim, an alligator approached Edwards and clamped down on his left arm. Edwards said he knew the next move was the death roll, when a gator pulls its prey underwater and rolls the victim around to drown it.

And that's when Edwards said he fought back by grabbing hold of a buoy line and not letting go. Somewhere in the battle he used the middle finger on his right hand to poke the reptile in the eye.

That's when Edwards got free, he said, started swimming and realized he didn't have his left arm. But his main concern was to make it to the east end of the canal so friends could pull him to safety.

Edwards said his attack shows something needs to be done about the overpopulation of gators.

"They're not protected creatures. They're nuisance animals," he said.

Edwards said the credit for his survival and quick thinking goes to God, friends and emergency personnel.

"I don't care who you are or how strong you think you are. You aren't going to be able to hold on to a buoy line while an 11?-foot alligator is trying to pull you underwater," he said.


*****************
I wonder if a drunk 18 year old is more of a nuisance than the gators.

Well....nature was trying to take care of that situation as well. Darwinian award hopeful. I saw the news story. Kid looked perfectly normal, clean cut, but really made a couple bad decisions.
If you are drinking don't drive.....or swim across a gator infested canal. :blink:

Since it was a fun activity for both the construction workers and tourists/visitors to "feed the gators" off the Watercolor pier...

They must all be coming through Destin to get to SoWal...there's a few hotel/restaurant signs screaming "Live Gators!! Daily Feedings!!" to 'showcase' their particular uniqueness on the strip.
It probably gets stuck in their subconscious, so when they see them in the wild they remember "Live Gators!! Daily Feedings!!" and think: 'Yeah!! That's a good idea!!!' ;-)

Well....nature was trying to take care of that situation as well. Darwinian award hopeful. I saw the news story. Kid looked perfectly normal, clean cut, but really made a couple bad decisions.
If you are drinking don't drive.....or swim across a gator infested canal. :blink:

My 6 year old heard this story, then said "It's OK. He can use his other arm."

Like this----:wave: