How many gators are in the river?

[sandydog]

My family and I road the riverboat last week at the MK and I noticed an alligator, probably about 4-5 feet long behind the boat tied up at the pirates cove. How many alligators are in the "river" there? Anyone else seen one? And no, it wasn't a fake one. It was quite real.

 

[Butterbunkins]

Years ago I saw one in the canal below our room at BCV. It's FL, they're everywhere.

 

[MHSweb79]

The gators get in the waterways when they are small. We were told on our Behind the Magic tour that when they get to a certain size they are removed to a non-guest area. I would think 4-5 feet would be in that category!

 

[mesaboy2]

Years ago I saw one in the canal below our room at BCV. It's FL, they're everywhere.

Yep. No big deal. Lovebugs, on the other hand....

 

[BlovesC]

We have at least three gators in the relatively small pond behind our home, so I imagine there's PLENTY more at Disney, with all the land and water they have.

 

[sandydog]

Interesting. I didn't think Disney would allow them in there at all. Guess that tells me I wasn't crazy thinking I saw a real gator!

 

[sandydog]

We have at least three gators in the relatively small pond behind our home, so I imagine there's PLENTY more at Disney, with all the land and water they have.

Wow, that's crazy! As you can tell, I'm not from Florida so I don't see gators everyday. I guarantee if they were in my pond, they'd eat a bullet right quick since we have a dog and three small kids. Unless that would be illegal of course, then I guess I'd call DNR or the game warden.

 

[chiamarie]

Wow, that's crazy! As you can tell, I'm not from Florida so I don't see gators everyday. I guarantee if they were in my pond, they'd eat a bullet right quick since we have a dog and three small kids. Unless that would be illegal of course, then I guess I'd call DNR or the game warden.

It is, in fact, illegal. Because most can't tell the difference between an American Alligator (which are abundant in Florida) and an American Crocodile (which are endangered, and thus protected by the Endangered Species Act), it is illegal to kill Gators or Crocs since they look so similar, and it'd be easy to accidently kill a croc, when you meant to kill a gator. So yes, it is illegal to shoot gators.

The first time I went to disney some 15 years ago; I saw a gator in the river at MK too, and reported it to a CM. He was just a little guy. I thought it was odd and unsafe too. Now that I've lived in Florida for nearly 7 years, it's pretty common, and as long as you keep your kids and dogs away, they're relatively harmless to humans, as long as you leave them be.

 

[ScarletFire]

I saw my first gator at SSR walking across the bridge to the Paddock pool. It was a little guy just having a float. I'm a wildlife lover so it was very exciting for me.

 

[MrsJD]

If there is water in FL, there will be gators. This is why I only swim in pools in FL. Of course, after my DH got bitten by a musky this year in WI, it appears there is danger lurking everywhere! lol!

 

[wehavesix]

The thing to remember about gators is that they are cold blooded and don't feed often. So they really don't present that much of a threat normally. They get to be a nuisance when they become too accustomed to humans. Small ones less than 3 or 4 feet long are not really a threat unless you antagonize them somehow. They aren't usually aggressive. Larger ones are frequently relocated if they are in populated areas. Hunting is strictly controlled in Louisiana. I'm sure it is in other states as well.

We went to Hilton Head Island during our spring break in March and saw gators on the banks of a small pond alongside a bike path. Signs warned people to stay out of the water and to not feed the gators. Feeding them is a sure way to make them more likely to become aggressive.

And, of course, being a Louisiana gal living only a couple of blocks from a river and a bayou and with several small lakes all around, I've seen gators all my life. I'm actually more leery of snapping turtles and gar fish. Both are more likely to bite in my experience!

 

[OKW Lover]

The gators get in the waterways when they are small. We were told on our Behind the Magic tour that when they get to a certain size they are removed to a non-guest area. I would think 4-5 feet would be in that category!

Non-guest area - like the handbag section of Macy's.

 

[twinklebug]

Wish the gators could reduce the vulture population.

 

[Sabrefan]

You mean you saw one IN Magic Kingdom?? Holy cow! I would have never thought there could be one in there. I figured there might be some around the resorts but in the actually park?!?

 

[kmb584]

You mean you saw one IN Magic Kingdom?? Holy cow! I would have never thought there could be one in there. I figured there might be some around the resorts but in the actually park?!?

Yes, indeed. I've seen several alligators in MK over the years, all of them in the Rivers of America. I've seen them on resort property as well - Bay Lake and the lake at CSR.

As others have mentioned, Disney is well aware of their cold blooded friends and monitor them closely and once the gators reach a certain size they are relocated to a more suitable home. In my experience, as long as you don't bother them they won't bother you. The worries come in when people are seen feeding them (which I've witnessed) as they then become accustom to human interaction and associate us with having food.

 

[thedonduck]

Signs warned people to stay out of the water and to not feed the gators. Feeding them is a sure way to make them more likely to become aggressive.

This is something I wish more people would take into consideration when thinking about feeding ANY wildlife. It drives me bonkers when I see people feeding the birds, fish, etc at WDW. I don't think they realize the ramifications for those animals.

PLEASE DON'T FEED THE ANIMALS!!

 

[OKW Lover]

You mean you saw one IN Magic Kingdom?? Holy cow! I would have never thought there could be one in there. I figured there might be some around the resorts but in the actually park?!?

The must have an Annual Pass.

Seriously, the waterways are all connected. Its easy enough for the gator to move around the various bodies of water. The water around Tom Sawyers Island is connected to a canal that runs out into Seven Seas Lagoon. When they need to do serious maintenance on the riverboat they tow it down that canal, across Seven Seas Lagoon, over the water bridge at the Contemporary into Bay Lake and then over to the dry dock area which is kind of behind Space Mountain.

 

[Sabrefan]

The must have an Annual Pass.

Seriously, the waterways are all connected. Its easy enough for the gator to move around the various bodies of water. The water around Tom Sawyers Island is connected to a canal that runs out into Seven Seas Lagoon. When they need to do serious maintenance on the riverboat they tow it down that canal, across Seven Seas Lagoon, over the water bridge at the Contemporary into Bay Lake and then over to the dry dock area which is kind of behind Space Mountain.

Oh cool I never realized that. Well guess I will keep my eyes peeled from now on

 

[buffettgirl]

This is something I wish more people would take into consideration when thinking about feeding ANY wildlife. It drives me bonkers when I see people feeding the birds, fish, etc at WDW. I don't think they realize the ramifications for those animals.

PLEASE DON'T FEED THE ANIMALS!!

Yeah, I'd really prefer people don't feed the birds - and then walk away. leaving birds flapping at everyone's food. I don't think they realize the ramifications for the people, forget the animals.

 

[MHSweb79]

Originally Posted by MHSweb79 View Post
The gators get in the waterways when they are small. We were told on our Behind the Magic tour that when they get to a certain size they are removed to a non-guest area. I would think 4-5 feet would be in that category!

Non-guest area - like the handbag section of Macy's.

No, that would be the gators in the tanks over at the Living with the Land ride. When I took THAT tour, we were told they get the baby gators from a farm, feed them while they are on display, and then when they are a certain size they go back to the farm. Something tells me they are not pulling tractor duty when they go back...