Poachers bits

Rick · 18th March 2005, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Conogre

LOL!
Most of my police experience was as a Yankee up in Michigan, Tim, with my first exposure to 'gators here in Florida coming with my two sons and I catching some newly hatched juveniles, amazed by their brilliant coloration and highly unreptilian vocalizations!
And yes, those vocalizations also aquainted us with maternal care in crocodilians and the considerable speed with which an 8 foot reptile can move......luckily, with a young son under each arm, I was able to move even faster!!
The difference between the Discovery Channel, books and hands on experience is literally beyond comparison!!!!!
Mike

Hi Mike , didn't some Elder enter the food chain on 'Alligator Alley'* down there recently ?

*Alligator Alley is a road that crosses S.Fla. East to West and goes through some mighty swampy country . There are signs that warn motorists to stay in their cars if they break down .

Conogre · 19th March 2005, 04:43 AM

Several times, actually, as with more and more land being developed that leaves less and less "wild" for them to be left in.
To make matters even worse, people are notorious for finding one in a retention pond in a mobile home park and then feeding it, ala Betty White in "Lake Placid", which is really bad with an animal that big and with a brain that small, for they soon learn to associate people with food and lose their natural fear of humans.
The case I think you are probably referring to was particularly bad as a very frail elderly lady ran out of food and was rushed by two larger gators with each grabbing a leg and making a wish while doing the famous "gator roll" in full view of a large number of horrified and helpless onlookers, dismembering her on the spot.
It's actually fairly common for them to be found on porches, in swimming pools (ever try to stop in mid-dive? **grin**) and crossing highways on a regular basis, with large specimens making an extremely effective speed bump, even on a freeway, if it's a smaller car.
The biggest fear, of course, is that small children could be at considerable risk as gators choose prey based upon size and movement, not shape or species, while the biggest common outrage is that they seem to particularly relish poodles, hairball or no hairball.**grin**
Mike
Mike

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19th March 2005, 04:43 AM	#2
Conogre Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Clearwater, Florida Posts: 371	Several times, actually, as with more and more land being developed that leaves less and less "wild" for them to be left in. To make matters even worse, people are notorious for finding one in a retention pond in a mobile home park and then feeding it, ala Betty White in "Lake Placid", which is really bad with an animal that big and with a brain that small, for they soon learn to associate people with food and lose their natural fear of humans. The case I think you are probably referring to was particularly bad as a very frail elderly lady ran out of food and was rushed by two larger gators with each grabbing a leg and making a wish while doing the famous "gator roll" in full view of a large number of horrified and helpless onlookers, dismembering her on the spot. It's actually fairly common for them to be found on porches, in swimming pools (ever try to stop in mid-dive? grin) and crossing highways on a regular basis, with large specimens making an extremely effective speed bump, even on a freeway, if it's a smaller car. The biggest fear, of course, is that small children could be at considerable risk as gators choose prey based upon size and movement, not shape or species, while the biggest common outrage is that they seem to particularly relish poodles, hairball or no hairball.grin Mike Mike