Alligators Visit the Parks Too!

[JoJoGirl]

This gator in Frontierland was small and not scary at all. He wasn't fussed by the people, either. Just drifting along, enjoying his day. I'd always heard three were alligators on property, but he was the first one we ever saw in person.

 

[lilmakattack]

We went canoeing at the Fort this summer and alligators weren't even on my radar until we paddled right by one. I've never paddled so fast in my life and I was so glad when we finally returned to the boat landing!

 

[OKW Lover]

They've had to remove a number of them due to guests feeding, specifically around the Turkey Leg Stand. They get in through the sewage system.

I'm sure somebody thought it would be cute/fun to feed the alligator but that's a really bad move for both the guest and the alligator.

The WDW sewage system doesn't empty out into any of the lakes or creeks. All sewage is piped to a treatment facility. The alligators get into the various bodies of water on property through the connected waterways. Just about every body of water in the area is connected to another by a stream. Alligators are also quite capable of crossing stretches of land, including roadways, to get to new hunting grounds.

 

[maryj11]

I look every year when we go and I have never seen one. I will keep looking !

 

[Baklava]

I'm just wondering how they got through the turnstiles without a Magic Band.

 

[OKW Lover]

I'm just wondering how they got through the turnstiles without a Magic Band.

Who would stop them?

 

[Gumbo4x4]

They need to relocate these guys to the Jungle Cruise area for authenticity. I don't think there are alligators in the Missouri River in Missouri.

There aren't, but they HAVE on occasion found bull sharks as far North as Alton, IL in the Mississippi. So, there's always the possibility of one in the Missouri.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

The trick is: don't look like food.

Problem is, once a gator exceeds 12', everything that walks starts to look like "food". LOL


Even scarier is the American Crocodile which has bounced back from near extinction & is expanding mainland out of the Everglades. They're much more aggressive & several examples exceeding 16' have been confirmed in recent years.

 

[Hopefully]

We saw the critter at the Beach Club Villas 2 weeks ago as well. He looked to be about 4 feet long.

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

Boo! I always look for them, its like they hide from me! Super cute photo!

 

[SmithSmith]

So I guess this is why Pete's tag line is "Stay out of the damn lakes".

 

[Enjoying Life]

A gator will kill you, especially a small child. Recently, an adult female was dangling her feet along the side of a canal just blocks from my house. A large gator ripped off her arms and legs, leaving only the torso. It's common around here that they kill dogs. You got to respect and fear them. DO NOT FEED OR PLAY WITH ONE.

 

[sunshine1]

Love alligators.

If they get too big and are removed from disney are they killed?

 

[bc7ate9]

Love alligators.

If they get too big and are removed from disney are they killed?

I doubt it. I assume they are relocated.

 

[sunshine1]

I doubt it. I assume they are relocated.

I hope so.

 

[lovethattink]

Here's info from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission about nuisance gator removal.

http://www.myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/managed/alligator/nuisance/[/QUOTE]

Love alligators.

If they get too big and are removed from disney are they killed?

I doubt it. I assume they are relocated.

I hope so.

 

[Enjoying Life]

They will most certainly be destroyed, given the overpopulation. They practically give away gator hunting licenses in Florida, which is helping control the population. The Fish and Wildlife Commission will send out a trapper to remove and destroy the animals. There is even a gator nuisance hot-line number.

“In 2014, SNAP received 13,599 nuisance alligator complaints resulting in the removal of 6,706 nuisance alligators.”

http://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/managed/alligator/nuisance/

 

[Enjoying Life]

Here's info from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission about nuisance gator removal.

http://www.myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/managed/alligator/nuisance/

Oops, didn't see that you already posted that link.,,DOH<<<>>>

 

[OKW Lover]

We like to joke that they are relocated to the shoe section of Macy's

 

[sunshine1]

We like to joke that they are relocated to the shoe section of Macy's

I have seen footage of gators being skinned alive for shoes and bags.

The pain that the alligators go through must be horrific.

What wonderful beings we are.