Alligator spotted

They taste like chicken, you know

They taste like chicken, you know

at that age, quite tender too

Smiley J-You got any gator pics? Word on the street is that you saw a mess of them yesterday

You don't look in the photo album often, do you?





..., but note that these are not the ones in the canals, mentioned in the first post. Those are a bit larger from what I hear on the streets.

SJ,

Are these in Western Lake?

Man oh man....them would make a great pair of shoes and a handbag!!!

SJ,

Are these in Western Lake?

Yes, and unfortunately, whomever is feeding them is essentially killing them. It was great to see them thriving in their home, but I must say that I'm a bit pissed off that the appear to be very comfortable approaching people. I was no more than a foot and a half away from one of them when I was taking photos. They are not afraid of people at all. With the sound of anything hitting the water, they quickly made their way in for inspection and hoping to get a free hand out of dinner. They are small now, only 3-3.5 ft, as John R noted, but if these guys reach 7-8 ft, they will be dangerous to young children and pets. Most gators disappear quickly when they see humans, and therefore they typically, want nothing to do with people. These two, however, love to be around people. They would not leave the area around the immediate dock.

WAKE UP, PEOPLE!!! (I know that I'm preaching to the choir, here, but please help spread the word.)

Dont guess we have to worry about these NATIVE creatures anymore
(speaking of the ones in the canal off Bay Drive)

Dont guess we have to worry about these NATIVE creatures anymore
(speaking of the ones in the canal off Bay Drive)

Well, at least one of the two canals. "Tiger" reportedly removed two six-footers from one of the canals last night.

Well, at least one of the two canals. "Tiger" reportedly removed two six-footers from one of the canals last night.

I wonder how much $$ he makes off of those. Does the state pay trappers and then they are free to sell the hides/meat? Or do they just do it for the "byproducts"?

I wonder how much $$ he makes off of those. Does the state pay trappers and then they are free to sell the hides/meat? Or do they just do it for the "byproducts"?

I'm not sure if all operate the same, but I recall seeing a story on tv about an alligator trapper in South FL, who removed problem gators, and he stated that he was not paid a fee, but allowed to keep the gator and sell the products and byproducts as his pay.

I'm not sure if all operate the same, but I recall seeing a story on tv about an alligator trapper in South FL, who removed problem gators, and he stated that he was not paid a fee, but allowed to keep the gator and sell the products and byproducts as his pay.

I saw a similar show and explanation, it may have been the same.

I guess I'm just out of it, but I thought when a gator got "removed" from SoWal it was relocated. Never dreamed they were killed.

So "Tiger" is a private individual, I gather. Does he operate on his own initiative or is someone (or the county) retaining him? What led to the 2 gators getting taken from the canal?

Why don't we just clear and pave the whole effing county and get it over with?

Good grief. Isn't there a whole other thread dealing with removal of the alligators from the canals?

The state contracts out alligator removal. It's a bit dangerous, and individuals who are brave enough to trap alligators and knowledgeable enough to not let them "go to waste" are few and far between. (Pssst - there is at least one poster on this board who is a descendant of the gentleman who used to be the local gator trapper. And it's not me, nor is it Florida Girl.)

btw, fried gator tail is mighty tasty! ;-)