Gator Warning

[Pin Wizard]

Never mind. My MAC is a pain! Sorry I can't put the link in.

Lisa Godley Reporting
Alligators In Hampton Roads?

(Chesapeake, VA, July 8th, 2004, 7:45 a.m.) There are some wild animals in Hampton Roads that we don't normally see. Your NewsChannel 3's Lisa Godley has more on this story.

Alligators usually don't come in contact with us here in Hampton Roads but, a local boater had a close call with one recently. Toby and Jo Ann Jarman have had their boat surrounded by eight ten foot alligators before, but that was much further south. That's why what they came across Tuesday was such a surprise. Toby and Jo Ann Jarman spend a lot of time on their boat "Moon River Three."

The Jarman's travel up and down the Intercoastal Waterway. As a result they get to see a lot of wildlife up close. But what they spotted Tuesday, about five miles from the Virginia State line in South Mills, North Carolina really took them by surprise. "We were shocked to look up and see an alligator!" The brownish-green gator was sunbathing on a limb. The Jarman's grabbed the camera and quickly rolled off a few shots before the six foot gator decided he'd had enough.

According to a spokesman for the Army Corps of Engineers, which operates the locks not far from where the Jarman's spotted the gator, it's very rare to see an alligator this far north. Frank Spruill who's the lock and bridge operator in South Mills says he'd heard stories that boaters had been spotting alligators, but he has yet to see one for himself. When Your NewsChannel 3 told him about the Jarman's photos he said he believes hurricane Isabel changed the landscape so much that the gators are just in search of new homes.

 

[LuvN~Travel]

For Pugdog, yup we do have gators in Alabama. My uncle and his wife have a place up at Lake Martin, and a gator got some ducks that hung out at his neighbor's spot last year. Of course now I'm not sure I want my kids to swim there again in the future. Luckily he's busy building right now, so I didn't have to make that decision this summer!
Kim

 

[marydmjj]

I'm a little nervous about gators now. Does anyone know if I should be concerned about them in the bay in front of Caribbean Beach?

 

[MJames41]

Originally posted by marydmjj
I'm a little nervous about gators now. Does anyone know if I should be concerned about them in the bay in front of Caribbean Beach?

I don't think you need to be concerned, Disney does remove them when they show up in the areas where guests are. You don't want to go playing with any that you find (except for the ones wearing t-shirts, they should be ok ).

 

[marydmjj]

Thanks. I just wasn't sure if I should keep my boys out of the water or not. I know we will mostly be at the pool but I expect they will want to play in the lake.

 

[lightningcoach]

I thought they had no swimming signs by the beach (bay) at the Polynesian and Carribean Beach resorts due to pollution.

You have a greater chance of catching an infection form the bay water than you do getting bit by an alligator.

 

[eeyore45]

Love wildlife! I remember reading a journal when aligators were on the endangered list - it was the way they count/track aligators, they go out in a boat at night with a light and just count the aligators, of course they dont count the aligators that spotted the boat and went under the water!!

When my parents first thought of moving to FL they vacationed in Ft Myers, and stayed at a friends home (in a 'senior' area they were thinking to buy in to) Well, dad being the handy dandy find something to do guy, was out working on the house... now he heard someone yell gator, but he wasnt near the water, and thought nothing of it, calmly walked in the house, and kept hearing someone yell it took you long enough - he turned and sure enough there was a gator walking around the yard!! My parents did buy in that development and when we came to visit, we would see a gator from time to time, and dumb tourist as described above that would want a pic!!

PS about the nuclear plant, they use water to cool the generator, and they put the water back into the lake, and it is warmer, its regulated how warm it can be, I think only 5degrees warmer, but dont quote me (I used to work for a generating station, coal fueled) the wild life like the warm waters...