Any alligator sightings at BCV lately?

[JimMIA]

I've looked for the crocodile,

You won't see any crocodiles. Any crocodilians you see at WDW will be American Alligators. American Crocodiles are found only around the southern tip of Florida in salt and brackish water.

Disney has recently taken out the "food for ducks" machines with the excuse that it's not natural to feed the wildlife. I wonder if the presence of alligators contributed to the decision. I do feed birds at home, and have been known to toss some bread/grains to ducks at WDW. I hope I'm not adding to the problem there. I'll have to think about this a bit. I never would intentionally feed a bear, deer or crocodile or animals like that.

Well, you could be feeding the alligators ducks! We recently had a lady complain about a Florida Panther who kept coming into her property in a remote area just outside Big Cypress National Preserve in South Florida. She was putting out salt licks to entice the "cute little deer" onto her property because she likes to watch them. Problem is, deer are the primary prey of panther in that part of their range, and all she was doing was creating a "panther deli!" As soon as she took the salt licks up, the deer went back to their normal foraging habits and the panther problem disappeared.

 

[JimMIA]

Actually one of the times we were there a security person was there telling people that they were not to feed the alligator and that there was a $500 fine if they are caught doing so. I doubt he had any authority to back it up but he was at least trying to do something about it.

Good for him! I don't know what, if any, enforcement authority the WDW security folks have, but they certainly have to be concerned about visitor safety and liability. He's right about the fine -- it's $500 under either federal or state law, plus up to six months in jail.

 

[manning]

Realistically, you're not likely to see any law enforcement at WDW, other than some occasional traffic enforcement. And noone is going to station an officer to babysit one or two alligators.

I know, it just made my blood boil when I heard him tell the person that. Too bad they don't put an officer out there at random and arrest one or two then post it on the disboard and Disney newsletter. That would make people think twice. At least for awhile.

I don't know if you have been to WDW lately. The occasional traffic officer has become common now at Disney's request. Seems the accident rate was getting too high. Even the Disney buses have slowed down. Also starting to see sheriff deputies standing at park entrances from time to time.

 

[rogerram]

I saw the gator on July 8th about 8PM behind the bus stop, in the water at BCV. He walked up onto the bank after that. The one time I didn't have mt camera with me. He seems like he is a good 6' long. I didn't know anything about it being there, so I was very surprised.

 

[JimMIA]

One thing you should keep in mind any time you see an alligator out of the water is that they are very quick on land -- especially the medium-sized ones, 4-8 feet. In all probability, the only time you would see that speed is when they were fleeing, but there is no sense being stupid around a large carnivore like an alligator.

At Everglades National Park, we recommend that people stay 15 feet (5 meters) away from alligators. However, those are alligators who we protect from feeding and harassment. At a place like WDW, where they have surely had plenty of both, I'd stay somewhat further away than that.

I probably wouldn't go within 25-30 feet of an alligator at WDW, and I'm very familiar with them and know what to watch out for in their behavior.

 

[bobbiwoz]

One thing you should keep in mind any time you see an alligator out of the water is that they are very quick on land -- especially the medium-sized ones, 4-8 feet. In all probability, the only time you would see that speed is when they were fleeing, but there is no sense being stupid around a large carnivore like an alligator.

At Everglades National Park, we recommend that people stay 15 feet (5 meters) away from alligators. However, those are alligators who we protect from feeding and harassment. At a place like WDW, where they have surely had plenty of both, I'd stay somewhat further away than that.

I probably wouldn't go within 25-30 feet of an alligator at WDW, and I'm very familiar with them and know what to watch out for in their behavior.

Well, reading this makes me feel a teeny bit better. We have visited Everglades NP a few times, and the last time at the Shark River portion, there was a rather large alligator just outside the visitors center and lots of people were close, certainly not 15 feet away. Maybe people felt that the bike rack was offering protection. I didn't stay to watch, but I wouldn't want to test the fact that those alligators do not feed on people.

As far as eating ducks, the alligators have to eat something. Would blue herons be more acceptable?

Bobbi

 

[JimMIA]

Well, reading this makes me feel a teeny bit better. We have visited Everglades NP a few times, and the last time at the Shark River portion, there was a rather large alligator just outside the visitors center and lots of people were close, certainly not 15 feet away. Maybe people felt that the bike rack was offering protection. I didn't stay to watch, but I wouldn't want to test the fact that those alligators do not feed on people.

As far as eating ducks, the alligators have to eat something. Would blue herons be more acceptable?

Bobbi

I said "recommend" -- that doesn't mean they pay any attention to us! We usually monitor visitors pretty closely around the alligators, but you can't be everywhere.

We don't have visitors touching alligators every day, but I'd say during the busy winter season, we have at least one a week...and I'm talking about just the ones we see. The fact that we have NEVER had an injury in one of those situations is a source of constant amazement to me.

Ducks/Great Blues? That's kind of a tossup. Ducks have more food value, but GBHs eat baby alligators. Either one is fine, I guess -- it's nature. I'm sure any alligator worth his salt would much rather have a nice fat turtle any day.

Next time you're at Shark Valley, Bobbi, stop in and say hi. That's where I work.

 

[bobbiwoz]

...Next time you're at Shark Valley, Bobbi, stop in and say hi. That's where I work.

Well, I sure will!!!..and also, have you seen a Florida Panther? The CD that I bought at Shark Valley says that very few people have, or even heard one growling.

Bobbi