If I Fall in the Lake, Will the Alligators Get Me?

[Smiling JOe]

Who on this board has really honestly seen an alligator in SoWal -- where, when, and what was the alligator doing? I heard that there were alligators at Camp Creek Golf course in the lake, but I don't know if that's true -- I heard golf balls were called 'gator bait.

I have seen more than one is SoWal, and one on Black Creek, north of the Bay. Most recently, I noticed a juvi gator, only about 7' long in the appropriately named, Alligator Lake next to Gulf Trace. He is not big enough to mess you you, but he could be interested in a small dog. There are a couple of photos of him in my album. I think it was Big Redfish Lake where I saw another one last year. He, too, was only about 8' long.

 

[kathydwells]

Ouch!

Well did you?

 

[Landlocked]

In all seriousness, I won't be swimming in the lakes any more. After our trip, I got back and saw the alligator photos in the album and thought about how many times I swam across that lake.

There is just something about swimming in that dark, almost coffee-like water that makes me uncomfortable. Especially when you hit one of those strange cold spots out in the middle and your feet are just dangling there. : :shock:

I'm sure the gators would not bother people, but I'm not going to be the one to find out.

But then again, I'll probably be the one that gets bitten by a shark cause I do swim in the gulf.

 

[Landlocked]

Well did you?

NO! That never has provided much protection.

 

[steele mama]

Who on this board has really honestly seen an alligator in SoWal -- where, when, and what was the alligator doing? I heard that there were alligators at Camp Creek Golf course in the lake, but I don't know if that's true -- I heard golf balls were called 'gator bait.

There was an alligator on our dock at Grayton during Labor Day weekend. He/she was a baby. We have seen alligators at our dock many times over the years. However...we (my family, cousins and friends, Pinkstons, Holmans, Morris', Kings, Fultons, McGees, Kennedys, Butlers, Gibsons, Davis', Mayos, Hughes', Wilsons, Cummings,Taylors, and all the rest)also swam in the lake all of our lives 50-60 years so far. We stayed in the lake every day, skiing, swimming, sailing. No one was ever attacked biten or anything by a gator and back then there weren't sooooo many people scaring them away. We only saw them in the evening at our dock and that was erratic and one at a time. Anyway, not to worry. Worry about cutting your foot open on an oyster shell. We have had plenty of people go to the ER with that!

 

[Smiling JOe]

There was an alligator on our dock at Grayton during Labor Day weekend. He/she was a baby. We have seen alligators at our dock many times over the years. However...we (my family, cousins and friends, Pinkstons, Holmans, Morris', Kings, Fultons, McGees, Kennedys, Butlers, Gibsons, Davis', Mayos, Hughes', Wilsons, Cummings,Taylors, and all the rest)also swam in the lake all of our lives 50-60 years so far. We stayed in the lake every day, skiing, swimming, sailing. No one was ever attacked biten or anything by a gator and back then there weren't sooooo many people scaring them away. We only saw them in the evening at our dock and that was erratic and one at a time. Anyway, not to worry. Worry about cutting your foot open on an oyster shell. We have had plenty of people go to the ER with that!

I hear you. I grew up skiing and swimming in a big lake with many gators, both big and small. I remember getting pretty scared when I was about waist deep in water when a 9'-10' gator popped its head above the water about 10 meters in front of me. He submerged and I did not see him again. Mostly, around here, they are seldomly seen, and you are lucky if you see one. Go up the rivers which feed into the bay, and you better stay in your boat at night. There are plenty of them up the rivers and creeks.

You are much more likely to get attacked by a driver behind the wheel of a vehicle as you attempt to cross Hwy 98.

 

[Kurt]

Gators have been hunted almost to extinxtion here. Of the few that are around, once they get of any size, someone kills it because they're worried about their dog or child being eaten.

No one has ever been attacked here that I know of. The gators have plenty to eat. Usuually the only trouble is from people feeding them. The gators lose their natural fear of man (and dogs) and come to close.

I have 4 gators behind my house. One is 10 feet. His name is Albert.

 

[Camp Creek Kid]

So what is a bigger threat--gator or shark? :roll:

 

[steele mama]

So what is a bigger threat--gator or shark? :roll:

Well...it's a toss up since no one at Grayton has been attacked by either (that I know of). Guess you'd have to check the stats for Florida. Let's see who can find the answer the fastest...go Kurt.

 

[graytonrbust]

Who on this board has really honestly seen an alligator in SoWal -- where, when, and what was the alligator doing? I heard that there were alligators at Camp Creek Golf course in the lake, but I don't know if that's true -- I heard golf balls were called 'gator bait.

I had an up close and personal encounter with a big alligator....on the lake behind the Pinkstons, in Grayton. (I'm not sure about west lake, east lake and all the official names of these places are, I just know where they physically are) I was crabbing, leaning down over the side of the pier, on my knees....and I had a tug on my string, so I start to pul it up slowly, got my net ready to scoop up my crab, much to my surprise, me and Mr Gator was almost nose to nose. Honestly I think I scared him as much as he scared me. I was about 10 then, and I went right back to crabbing.....now I would probably pass out!