No hunting license

[Cindyluwho]

Although I do have to say, any animal that attacks one of my dogs or any person is open season for me. We had a redtail hawk take up residence in our yard last year. The wildlife people told us that there was only a small possibility he would mess with our dogs (smallish - 10 lbs to 17 lbs) and just to stay in the yard with them when they went out. If that hawk had messed with any of my dogs - he would have been history. I don't care what fine I would have faced.

On the poultry boards we have a saying "SSS - Shoot, Shovel and Shut up"

 

[brerrabbit]

I never said the lady in the article was looking for trouble or going to the lake to try and shoot the gator. Obviously it entered her yard/house and threatened her pet. The point of the warning is to say look, this lady had a real reason to do what she did and got a warning, if the situation were you saw it on the shore of the lake and shot it you would get in a lot of trouble. I am in no way commenting on what she did, but rather explaining why the authorities did what they did. What is not said or known except to her and her neighbors is was someone feeding the gator? Were they doing things they should not have been doing to lower the animals fear of humans? All I am saying is if you are truely cornered and need to use deadly force, then fine do it. The warning was merely to the rest of Florida to say be careful about killing gators and then saying well, I was threatened.

Always remember the animals were here long before we showed up and we are the ones encroaching on their territory. As new housing moves into their habitats we are going to have more and more of these encounters and people need to learn to be careful and how to deal with the situations short of getting out old Bessie and shooting first and asking questions later.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I guess I don't see the need for (officially documented) warnings when someone did nothing wrong.

Like if I get to a staged stop and check (forget what they are called--but when the police set up a spot and then stop every car just to check everything is good). I get a warning citation to stay buckled and keep the kids in their car seats. But they were already in the car seats. If I did nothing wrong per that particular warning--why make me the poster child?

There was no need to make her the poster child if she did nothing wrong.

Very familiar with the gator situation here and I would be mad as heck if I, my kids, or my pets were getting attacked--I decide to do something about it--then I get cited with a warning for doing that.

The animals were here first--but she did not approach said animal. The citation (and the reasoning behind it) treats her as though she did. That is wrong. A victim should not be made a poster child and that is basically what has happened.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

I guess I don't see the need for (officially documented) warnings when someone did nothing wrong.

Like if I get to a staged stop and check (forget what they are called--but when the police set up a spot and then stop every car just to check everything is good). I get a warning citation to stay buckled and keep the kids in their car seats. But they were already in the car seats. If I did nothing wrong per that particular warning--why make me the poster child?

There was no need to make her the poster child if she did nothing wrong.

Very familiar with the gator situation here and I would be mad as heck if I, my kids, or my pets were getting attacked--I decide to do something about it--then I get cited with a warning for doing that.

The animals were here first--but she did not approach said animal. The citation (and the reasoning behind it) treats her as though she did. That is wrong. A victim should not be made a poster child and that is basically what has happened.

But she did do something wrong according to State Statute:
The 2005 Florida Statutes

Title XXVIII
NATURAL RESOURCES; CONSERVATION, RECLAMATION, AND USE Chapter 372
WILDLIFE View Entire Chapter

372.663 Illegal killing, possessing, or capturing of alligators or other crocodilia or eggs; confiscation of equipment.--

(1) It is unlawful to intentionally kill, injure, possess, or capture, or attempt to kill, injure, possess, or capture, an alligator or other crocodilian, or the eggs of an alligator or other crocodilian, unless authorized by the rules of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Any person who violates this section is guilty of a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084, in addition to such other punishment as may be provided by law. Any equipment, including but not limited to weapons, vehicles, boats, and lines, used by a person in the commission of a violation of any law, rule, regulation, or order relating to alligators or other crocodilia or the eggs of alligators or other crocodilia shall, upon conviction of such person, be confiscated by the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and disposed of according to rules and regulations of the commission. The arresting officer shall promptly make a return of the seizure, describing in detail the property seized and the facts and circumstances under which it was seized, including the names of all persons known to the officer who have an interest in the property.

(2) The commission shall promptly fix the value of the property and make return to the clerk of the circuit court of the county wherein same was seized. Upon proper showing that any such property is owned by, or titled in the name of, any innocent party, such property shall be promptly returned to such owner.

(3) The provisions of this section shall not vitiate any valid lien, retain title contract, or chattel mortgage on such property in effect as of the time of such seizure.

History.--s. 1, ch. 70-1; s. 1, ch. 70-439; s. 312, ch. 71-136; s. 1, ch. 91-134; s. 144, ch. 99-245.


http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes...earch_String=alligators&URL=CH0372/Sec663.HTM


Believe me, if it's between me or a loved one and a gator, the gator is getting it. But according to state law, I would be breaking the law.

I think there is probably a fear that peopel are going to go on unpermitted alligator hunts because of all the "killer" gators out there. People should be smart enough to know that in Florida any body of water potentially has a gator in it and should exercise great caution.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

That is crazy.

There needs to be a self defense clause b/c that is absolutely rediculous that if the gator has your arm in its mouth---then you must allow it to continue feasting or risk breaking the law. (which hopefully the average person would consider saving themselves and forget any silly laws).

Are you sure there isn't something else somewhere?--b/c again she didn't hunt out the gator. Which is how I read the intent of that statute--to prevent illegal hunting.

Thanks for posting that.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

No self-defense clause that I saw. However, you have to remember that the State Attorney's office has the right to charge or not charge. I am sure they wouldn't charge in a case of self-defense (what jury would convict someone??!!??!)

Further info here: http://myfwc.com/gators/faq/lwa.htm
Here's a quote from that link:

• Leave alligators alone. State law prohibits killing, harassing or possession of alligators.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Wonder if she just left it on her porch and called authorities if she would have been cited for possession.

 

[brerrabbit]

The same laws exsists in Texas, hence the reason for me saying I understand why she was issued the warning. In my original post I referanced an episode of Southpark and as silly as it was it's the reason for no "Self Defense Clause" people who wanted to kill a gator would just say, "it was attacking me!" I agree with Jasmine that anybody who was in real trouble and reacted would probably not be charged but because of the world we live in you have to have these type laws and rules.