Gators

[Montana Disney Fan]

Last time we were down we were leaving Epcot via International Gateway and headed out through the Beach Club and across the the little river (or ditch) and saw two Disney employees looking over the bridge into the water.

We walked up, looked over the bridge, and saw what they were looking at. It was a VERY large alligator swimming towards Epcot. I couldn't believe it!

Has anyone else ever seen a Gator or Crock at Disney? What do they do with them?

 

[cleo]

They move them to Gatorland.

 

[cruiseonmagic]

Normally the gator will swim back to where it belongs on its' own. If they hang around too long where people can see them, "pest control" is called. They capture the gator, and take them to where the gators usually hang out. If the gator is unfortunate enough to have people feed it, it becomes a belt, shoes, handbag, etc. When you feed gators, they become bolder around people so the only thing that can be done is to get rid of them.

 

[cleo]

Actually, it's illegal to make them into a bag, shoes, etc. They get moved to a safer location for guests and the gator.

 

[Rella Bella]

We saw a small one in the pond at CSR. My friend that lives in Orlando says they are found in every body of water in Florida... maybe she's exagerating but I always keep my hands out of the water!

 

[jjk]

we saw one when we were on the boat across to tom sayer island only a baby but the cast member said they let them stay till they get too big and then move them im always slightly nervous on that crossing now

 

[safetymom]

If they are longer than 5 feet they are killed. Gators can find their way back when they are large. Some of them are relocated to their nature preserve.

 

[slo]

This is why River Country is no more

 

[keishashadow]

We saw a small one in the pond at CSR. My friend that lives in Orlando says they are found in every body of water in Florida... maybe she's exagerating but I always keep my hands out of the water!

Spent several years living in the Tampa Bay area of FL as a child. The rule of thumb (to help preserve yours) was to never swim in any inland bodies of water - unless they employed the mesh-net system to keep out the Gators. Lived near a wooded/swamp area...@ night you could hear odd growling noises eminating! The locals said they were the Gators...not sure if they were pulling the Yankee's legs or not.

IMO, Gators are probably the best advertisement for swimming pools in FL.

Did anyone see the AP story of the Boa Constrictor that tried to swallow a good size Gator - both died? Happened in the everglades, but not real comforting to know that folks are abandoning their pet Boas in the swamps!

 

[elmo2wdw]

We saw this one in the water by Tom Sawyer's Island.

 

[AprilLizbeth]

Living in Clearwater, FL my whole life (well up until about 2 months ago, but thats another story) you see gators all the time. They are just a fact of life in Florida. Most are not aggressive like crocodiles, basically you keep your distance and so will they. They are much happier to snack on fish and birds and live peacefully with no human contact. So next time you see one at WDW, dont worry, unless of course you see people approaching it...

 

[AJKMOM]

I'm not sure alligators are still on the "endangered species" list. I saw on Animal Planet that any over a certain size are, in fact, killed when caught. Especially if it is known they attacked something or someone. Alligators have a homing instinct that brings them back to a certain area from hundreds of miles away. Since there are now millions of gators in Florida, most nuisance- their word, not mine- are killed.

 

[LaraK]

My dad, who lives in FL also said any body of fresh water should be assumed to have gators in it. He has a lake behind his house and sees gators all the time.

 

[jackmac]

Gators are all around in Florida. On each of my trips I have seen a gator. For a while there was a small gator living in the water near the Beach Club Villa. He was there for a couple of years, I'm not sure if he's still there. On the golf courses there are gators. As others have said, they are allowed to get to be 4-5 feet long and then they are captured and moved.
Whenever I don't quite make it over a water hazard when playing golf I just forget about the missing ball and take the penalty, better to lose a stroke than a hand.

 

['Canes Fan]

we've got two in the lake in our backyard. they want nothing to do with you. but be careful where you walk your dog. it's illegal for anyone besides the Florida Game and Wildlife to kill one. but when they reach a certain size and have proven themselves as a nuisance, they are killed. we have a five footer we see at Lettuce Lake park that is taking fish off of people's fishing poles when they make a catch, I hope she gets relocated. that's not good.

 

['Canes Fan]

here she is:

[/IMG]

 

['Canes Fan]

and then with my daughter. she's hanging out like a puppy waiting for food. which is bad.

[/IMG]

 

[Tancread]

[QUOTE='Canes Fan]and then with my daughter. she's hanging out like a puppy waiting for food. which is bad.
[[/QUOTE]

Look, your daughter has every right to expect food, having an alligator nearby is no excuse to not feed your daughter....



Oh, did you mean the alligator? Yeah, that is bad I admit...

 

[Big Fat Disney MaMa]

Look, your daughter has every right to expect food, having an alligator nearby is no excuse to not feed your daughter....



Oh, did you mean the alligator? Yeah, that is bad I admit...

Thanks! I just burst out laughing at work. My boss thinks I am laughing at her!

 

[lillygator]

please don't feed the Gators!!