General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThe perfect metaphor to Florida living!
Young boy reels in a fish on his own, only for a local alligator to come take the fish AND the pole.
In Florida, alligators walk on two feet.
alphafemale
(18,497 posts)Drop the pole and run.
I don't think I'd let a child that small close to water in gator territory.
Baitball Blogger
(46,574 posts)Alligators tend to migrate during mating season. Which is why you can find them in the oddest places.
alphafemale
(18,497 posts)Mostly on and near the dunes.
Good thing is that keeps people off the dunes more than any signs.
Wounded Bear
(58,440 posts)but you're right, watching him through the view finder/phone screen are a poor version of "watching" him in a dangerous environment, and any water in Florida could be dangerous.
alphafemale
(18,497 posts)A person who has recently moved to the area walking a smallish dog near the edge of some lagoon/retention pond in a development.
The gators aren't after the person they are after the dog.
"Do Not Feed the Alligators" signs should add the addendum - "Your Dog is Gator Food"
Ferrets are Cool
(21,059 posts)flamingdem
(39,304 posts)I hope this wasn't another set up video. There are many these days and the animals are the victims
gab13by13
(20,864 posts)my uncle was teaching me. I caught a trout that had swallowed the hook, my uncle told me to cut the line close and in time the hook will dissolve. Don't know if he was right or not but it was the better option than trying to dig out the hook.
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)lets his little son be that close to Florida water alone, while fishing or otherwise. His son is also alligator food and there are a lot bigger ones in that water.
Goonch
(3,551 posts)multigraincracker
(32,528 posts)We were talking about all of the alligators on the bank. So, I asked what to do if you fall in. He said "don't splash".
Baitball Blogger
(46,574 posts)"Don't poke the bear."
I had a policeman who reminded me of that precaution. He was threatening. He was just saying a reality about our community.
TeamProg
(5,788 posts)The most common animal-related fatalities are from large mammals, like cattle or horses, but when youre looking at attacks from wild animals only, the most common cause of death are due to venomous animals, like wasps or bees, Forrester said. I think people have in their mind that the most dangerous animals are cougars, bears or alligators, but a bee is more dangerous if a person is predisposed to a reaction.
For instance, from 1999 to 2014, 921 people died in the United States from encountering hornets, wasps or bees, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. During that same time span, nine people died from crocodile or alligator attacks, and 78 people died from attacks by other reptiles.
Meanwhile, 486 people died from dog attacks and 1,163 people died from attacks by other mammals, such as cows or horses. About 4.5 million dog bites occur each year.
I think it underscores that the more dangerous animals are the ones were around all the time, like horses or cows or pigs or dogs, Forrester said.
Jon King
(1,910 posts)Sundown is a terrible time for a small child or dog, perfect size for alligator to think is prey, to be near a lake fishing.