RE: [gardeners] Re: this is spring?

Anne Green (gardeners@globalgarden.com)
Sun, 2 Mar 2003 12:05:51 -0500 

Aligators are dangerous.  A couple years ago a child who fell off a bike
was bitten, but saved, when she fell off of her bike on the Everglade
trails.  She fell at dusk as the family was taking an evening ride from
their campsite.  In a different area a child was saved, but her father
drowned when he got in the water to save her.   Both of these incedences
took place at dusk, which is normal feeding time for most gators.  To a
hungry gator any time is feeding time.  

As a teen we used to swim with the gators across the river, but we knew
not to be out there at feeding time which is dawn and dusk.  Course,
they had plenty of food available and did not need us.  We still tell
newcomers if you are walking your dog and the gator comes after you, let
him have the dog and run like hell.  The majority of injuries occur when
someone tries to save their dog.  We still do swim in gator infested
waters, but not if we can see them, and only if the water and edges are
clear of weeds and brush for them to hide in.  
Anne in FL
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-gardeners@globalgarden.com 
> [mailto:owner-gardeners@globalgarden.com] On Behalf Of George Shirley
> Sent: Sunday, March 02, 2003 9:28 AM
> To: gardeners@globalgarden.com
> Subject: Re: [gardeners] Re: this is spring?
> 
> 
> I don't disagree at all Penny. I see people allowing their children to
> play along the shores of gator filled water and they don't seem
> concerned. I must say I haven't heard of gators taking any children in
> many years but they do take small dogs every year. Let your dog run
> loose where the gators are you might lose the dog. I give 
> gators a wide
> berth myself, I can't run very fast anymore.
> 
> As a side note: We have the Creole Nature Trail nearby and that trail
> has a place to park where you can take about a quarter mile 
> walk in the
> marsh. Often large alligators are sunning themselves along the walk.
> When we see them we turn around and go back to the car. A couple of
> years ago my wife and a friend of ours were walking along and a couple
> of European tourists asked if it was okay to pet the alligators.
> Evidently some people think that if the gator is lying up 
> their close by
> they must be pets. We got a big laugh out of it but I still think they
> should put up signs on that point to ensure people really 
> don't pet the
> gators. Don't pet the gators people or you could end up like Captain
> Hook. <VBG>
> 
> George
> 
> pennyx1@juno.com wrote:
> > 
> > MarcW, did you feel any of the outreaching rain from your tropical
> > cyclone Graham which swept across the north country but a day or so
> > ago..?  Do you actually have ample rainwater during the season?  And
> > the 3rd question, of course, is where does your automatic watering
> > system actually get its water from?
> > 
> > My brother-in-law and his wife have bought a small retirement house
> > being built in southern Florida, and have just returned 
> from a quick trip
> > to see how it was coming along ...  they said it's on a 
> pretty lake --
> > but
> > no one can swim in it, because of all the alligators. I do 
> wonder what
> > will happen when their grandchildren come down to visit. . .
> > 
> > At least here in New York we only have woodchucks and moles and
> > skunks and deer to plague us. Don't think I could handle alligators,
> > altho George might disagree...
> > 
> > Penny, NY
> > 
> > .
> > 
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