Crocodiles in Jamaica, Mexico and Grand Cayman

[fairytalelover]

bug bites, possible skin conditions from plants (poison ivy / poisonwood tree), ticks, spiders. there are no venomous snakes in Jamaica. Use sunscreen first, then insect repellent with DEET after. Don't rub up against plants and vines. Don't go exploring off on your own. Oh, yeah, have fun.

thank you. We will follow your advice

 

[hanscarlet]

I've been to Grand Cayman, Tortola, St. Thomas and Mexico and Costa Rica and my experience was they were more prevalent in Costa Rica... having said that I did more activities that took place in more gator-friendly/croc-friendly environments, activities like a riverboat cruise in the rainforest, hiking along swamps in the forest and actually there was a big one on the beach (Pacific Ocean side) - the big croc usually hung out in a canal that fed right into the beach... he was a known to locals so at the time I really didn't feel scared because he didn't appear to venture on the beach... now looking back on it perhaps I should have been more scared

Grand Cayman - we just went to the beach and so no opportunities to see gators or crocs, craziest wildlife we saw were iguanas

Mexico - we were mostly on the resort so near the beach or the pool so we didn't feel nervous in mexico, the craziest wildlife we saw were stray cats...

My husband and I went on a tour of the everglades in 2004 and the guides basically said gators can live anywhere near a swamp, lake, water environment in a hot location... if you go somewhere on these destinations and see a swamp or a small lake or pond, steer clear, be vigilant and you should be fine

 

[lillygator]

we've been to all three posts and heading again in december. never had a problem with crocs. lots of iguanas though.
but yes, gators are everywhere here in florida. they are found mainly in fresh water but have been found in salt water canals, pools, etc people's doorsteps, yards....

 

[Weedy]

To give you an idea of how many gators are in Florida this lake is north/east of the Orlando airport.

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2003-09-14/news/0309140132_1_lake-jesup-lake-okeechobee-gators

 

[fairytalelover]

I've been to Grand Cayman, Tortola, St. Thomas and Mexico and Costa Rica and my experience was they were more prevalent in Costa Rica... having said that I did more activities that took place in more gator-friendly/croc-friendly environments, activities like a riverboat cruise in the rainforest, hiking along swamps in the forest and actually there was a big one on the beach (Pacific Ocean side) - the big croc usually hung out in a canal that fed right into the beach... he was a known to locals so at the time I really didn't feel scared because he didn't appear to venture on the beach... now looking back on it perhaps I should have been more scared

Grand Cayman - we just went to the beach and so no opportunities to see gators or crocs, craziest wildlife we saw were iguanas

Mexico - we were mostly on the resort so near the beach or the pool so we didn't feel nervous in mexico, the craziest wildlife we saw were stray cats...

My husband and I went on a tour of the everglades in 2004 and the guides basically said gators can live anywhere near a swamp, lake, water environment in a hot location... if you go somewhere on these destinations and see a swamp or a small lake or pond, steer clear, be vigilant and you should be fine

see now I really appreciate your advice here. Very informative and pleasant. I started another thread today about gators by splash mountain and most of the people there just insulted me instead of giving me some good info......

 

[Sytrace]

I have been to Caymans, Mexico and Jamaica a few times and have not encountered gators/crocs. Something to note is that mating season is in May to June in Florida for gators and July to August for Crocs. You are sailing in December so there will be less activity in that respect.

We did the Turtle farm and Hell tour in Caymans once, the beach at Playa Mia in Cozumel a few times (there are rocks on the bottom of the beach area but once you get deep enough, there is good sand. (And have never seen gators/crocs) It is also heavily populated and we weren't swimming in the dark which makes a difference. A tour of the Good Hope Estate which had some wildlife that was contained as well as a bird sanctuary. We also did the Green Grotto Caverns in Jamaica. Biggest issue there was bats and being down in the total darkness in an enclosed space for a few minuites.

Be sure to pack sunscreen, (a lot of it if you are not used to the tropical sun) bug spray (with Deet) a hat, sunglasses, and light long sleeves (think cottony gauze type)
The Zika virus is out there on those islands as well and if you are going near rainforest areas with intense humidity and heat you will want extra protection.

On a side note, I was born in Florida and have lived in various parts of the state over the years (currently in Orlando) and even I was surprised by what happened to the baby at GF. Gators can and do show up in unusual places as well as places that you would expect to see them. There have been gators found in swimming pools of private homes, in retention ponds near apartments and condos and in various bodies of water all over the state.

 

[Hundredacre]

If you encounter an alligator you just have to be prepared to beat the @#$! Out of it. In all seriousness that is how you save someone from one.

 

[Sytrace]

If you encounter an alligator you just have to be prepared to beat the @#$! Out of it. In all seriousness that is how you save someone from one.

Definitely. Hit it around the eyes as they are most sensitive and for sharks punch it in the nose.

 

[RedSox68]

In Florida (and the US) alligators are protected and are only allowed to be hunted during a small time period.
No so in Jamaica and other countries.
Growing up in Orlando in the 60's before they were protected you rarely saw an alligator. now they are everywhere. My family owned property just to the north of WDW it was in the country.

https://www.fws.gov/endangered/esa-library/pdf/alligator.pdf

Then how were they allowed to kill 5+ gators in Orlando last week?

 

[Sytrace]

Because they had to kill the gators to search the stomach contents for the baby.

 

[Hundredacre]

In Florida (and the US) alligators are protected and are only allowed to be hunted during a small time period.
No so in Jamaica and other countries.
Growing up in Orlando in the 60's before they were protected you rarely saw an alligator. now they are everywhere. My family owned property just to the north of WDW it was in the country.

https://www.fws.gov/endangered/esa-library/pdf/alligator.pdf

This is absolutely true. I also grew up in gator country and their populations are now completely out of countrol due to government regulations. You won't hear that in the media.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

Then how were they allowed to kill 5+ gators in Orlando last week?

There is a provision for removing "nuisance" gators. Since a child was killed, they needed to find the gator that did it and they believed the child's remains might be in one of the gators. The protections were put in place when the American alligator had been hunted into near extinction. The protections worked and the gator population has exploded. They don't want just any Joe Schmoe to go out and kill off gators without reason, but if someone has a gator living in a lake or pond near their property and they feel it's a danger, they can call Florida Game and Wildlife ( or whatever the correct name of the agency is) and have them come and remove the gator. Disney employs people to actively remove gators which have reached 4 feet in length, but they can't find all the gators and they can't prevent a larger gator from entering their waterways from somewhere else.

 

[Hundredacre]

There is a provision for removing "nuisance" gators. Since a child was killed, they needed to find the gator that did it and they believed the child's remains might be in one of the gators. The protections were put in place when the American alligator had been hunted into near extinction. The protections worked and the gator population has exploded. They don't want just any Joe Schmoe to go out and kill off gators without reason, but if someone has a gator living in a lake or pond near their property and they feel it's a danger, they can call Florida Game and Wildlife ( or whatever the correct name of the agency is) and have them come and remove the gator. Disney employs people to actively remove gators which have reached 4 feet in length, but they can't find all the gators and they can't prevent a larger gator from entering their waterways from somewhere else.

I definitely think Disney is a victim of regulations on gators but I also think they should be pushing back against those regulations instead of doubling down and allowing alligators to essentially turn their property into an alligator farm. Disney claims to remove "bad" gators or "big"gators but the police department was able to find 5 huge ones pretty quickly.

 

[Happyinwonerland]

so if the bobsled excursion is in the rain forest area then what are the dangers there we should be alert to?

Google is your friend. Take your education into your own hands and research the dangers. Get it straight from the horses mouth instead of second hand armchair experts.

I honestly thought people were aware of saltwater crocodiles and the many, many dangerous animals in the rain forest. Again, it seems like one of those common knowledge things.

 

[Happyinwonerland]

I definitely think Disney is a victim of regulations on gators but I also think they should be pushing back against those regulations instead of doubling down and allowing alligators to essentially turn their property into an alligator farm. Disney claims to remove "bad" gators or "big"gators but the police department was able to find 5 huge ones pretty quickly.

It's not an alligator farm, it's a lake!! That's their natural habitat. Humans encroached on them, notvice versa.

 

[Hundredacre]

It's not an alligator farm, it's a lake!! That's their natural habitat. Humans encroached on them, notvice versa.

Your answer is the exact reason the gator population is out of control. Cockroaches have a natural habitat too. And news flash: its not their natural habitat. It is a man made lake.

 

[Jwhittin]

yeah, I can't stand the auto-response type quotes like that. The "you are more likelies" dont work because it only takes one time for tragedy to hit and it actually could happen to you. Just like it happened to this very normal family.......so when I hear the "you are more likelies" I roll my eyes.....and continue with my research to be prudent as I can be when travelling.....

It may be an auto response but you know what? It's the truth. Bad things can and do happen. They happen to good, law-abiding, well-informed people. You can prepare for any situation but never be 100% prepared for everything. Many people play the lottery, and maybe one out of a million people will win. It's the same odds. It's just a more pleasant outcome.

 

[Happyinwonerland]

Your answer is the exact reason the gator population is out of control. Cockroaches have a natural habitat too. And news flash: its not their natural habitat. It is a man made lake.

You're right ,it is man made lake that is connected to a natural lake. Either way a lake is a lake and that's where alligators live naturally. They will flock to it when they need space to live. Being surprised by gators in a man made lake is like being surprised to see fish there. Why is nobody complaining about all the nuisance fishes in the lake? Or the snapping turtles? Why are we freaking out over one particular type of wildlife?

 

[DLgal]

The State Department page for each destination is where you will find comprehensive information about ALL the potential hazards you may encounter.

Suffice it to say, in Jamaica, a crocodile should be the LEAST of your concerns.

 

[Hundredacre]

You're right ,it is man made lake that is connected to a natural lake. Either way a lake is a lake and that's where alligators live naturally. They will flock to it when they need space to live. Being surprised by gators in a man made lake is like being surprised to see fish there. Why is nobody complaining about all the nuisance fishes in the lake? Or the snapping turtles? Why are we freaking out over one particular type of wildlife?

I love alligator. ... boots. But seriously, I just think we've given too much leeway and importance to the alligator. My opinion- time to cut back the population. Especially in areas like theme parks!!