Second gator

[Cantw8]

Actually, Goofy DID linger...it was during the day, but he ran off the beach, fell into the water, and was making quite a commotion in the water while trying to get the boat to come and get him. My point in bringing that up in all was in response to someone who also said they saw quite a bit of regular activity on the water (mouseboats, fireworks cruises, etc) that even though one might know gators are common in FL, the amount of activity on that lagoon can easily give one a false sense of security that the water is safe.

I don’t think this attack was Disney’s fault - or anyone’s fault. But when people started wagging their fingers at these poor parents for assuming the water was ok to go wading in, my first thought was that time we saw Goofy on the water skis out there.

You can’t assume people understand all of the dangers out there, especially in a tourist resort filled with people who aren’t from FL. I work in Times Square, so I’m surrounded by tourists every day. What’s common sense to me isn’t to them.

This was my point also. If Disney holds activities in bodies of water known to harbor alligators and doesn't make guests sign any kind of waiver to participate, then I am lulled into a false sense of security

 

[AppleDumpling]

I'm pretty sure Goofy wasn't skiing at night, or in the near dark, right? He also probably didn't linger by the shore, splashing in the water. Those things are what attracted the gator to the shore--they feed at night and the splashing sounds like prey.

To the people commenting how they use to play in the water in the 70s, gators were on the endangered species list for 1967 to 1987. The odds of an attack now are small, then it was miniscule.

Not to belabor the point, but in the early days of WDW, for at least a couple of years, they did have water ski shows in the evening after dark. Here are some photos clearly taken at night and one at dusk that shows spectators sitting on the beach.

So there is a history of this at Disney even if alligators were much rarer then than they are now. And even in present day, though swimming is banned, guests have been able to waterski, go tubing, wakeboarding, jetskiing, parasailing, etc. How safe are these activities with not only alligators but the other publicized water-borne health hazards? I agree with PPs, and feel that Disney has sent mixed messages and have not fully informed guests of the risks.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Do gators usually work together to bring down their prey? I thought they worked alone.

I was just watching something on crocs - yes, I know different species. Anyway, as soon as the big one snatched a Wildebeest, 3 dozen others came RUSHING over. From what I've seen, reptiles in general aren't bashful about trying to steal meals from each other.

BTW, a lot of people don't know about the existence of the American Crocodile. They are very closely related to the African Nile Crocodile. They were once critically endangered, but are in recovery & are moving North out of the Everglades. Scientists studying them have used lasers to measure them from a distance (because getting close would be too dangerous), and have documented many live specimens in excess of 16 feet in length.

 

[dfb]

Gators don't typically hunt with others...perhaps they were mating?? Or maybe dad was in shock and confused.

Or maybe the gators are conditioned to know a meal is near when they see people gathered near the shore. Since folks feed gators in WDW I expect you could see 2 or more gators congregating expecting to be fed.

Also for those who get hung up on whether the child was in the water or not: I don't think you have to be in the water to be attacked.

I've seen numerous wildlife shows capturing on film gators attacking, usually small, prey at the shoreline not necessarily in the water.

Folks need to understand if they have been feeding gators at WDW they are partially responsible for that's child's death.

 

[JoeA]

This was my point also. If Disney holds activities in bodies of water known to harbor alligators and doesn't make guests sign any kind of waiver to participate, then I am lulled into a false sense of security

So you need a waiver to feel safe/unsafe? I always looked at a big body of water that is, you know, essentially a swamp, and took appropriate measures.

I would never expect a 'gator but not surprised there was one (or two) if that makes sense. Just like I have been in oceans all over the Caribbean and Hawaii and never expect to see a shark but wasn't surprised to see one a foot behind my wife once.

 

[lifesavacation]

Or maybe the gators are conditioned to know a meal is near when they see people gathered near the shore. Since folks feed gators in WDW I expect you could see 2 or more gators congregating expecting to be fed.

Also for those who get hung up on whether the child was in the water or not: I don't think you have to be in the water to be attacked.

I've seen numerous wildlife shows capturing on film gators attacking, usually small, prey at the shoreline not necessarily in the water.

Folks need to understand if they have been feeding gators at WDW they are partially responsible for that's child's death.

The lady in the video leaves me speechless. Are people really that clueless?

 

[Gumbo4x4]

The American black bear can be quite adaptable to living near people. Try Los Angeles County in the area near Angeles National Forest. A few cities require the use of bear resistant trash cans on collection day. Bears have been spotted in Pasadena.

http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-bears-spring-20160524-snap-story.html

However, I've heard of some real doozies, including bears that wandered all the way to Reno. There really isn't what you'd think of as bear territory for at least 25 miles. Those bears just wandered along roads and neighborhoods.

We've had one that has popped up ALL OVER Missouri these past 2 years. He's twice been trapped by the conservation department & released (he hasn't been a nuicance). They now have a tracking collar on him & you can follow him online. He shows up 75-100 miles up the road just days after being somewhere else. He's crossed the Missouri River several times, probably using highway bridges.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Or maybe the gators are conditioned to know a meal is near when they see people gathered near the shore. Since folks feed gators in WDW I expect you could see 2 or more gators congregating expecting to be fed.

Also for those who get hung up on whether the child was in the water or not: I don't think you have to be in the water to be attacked.

I've seen numerous wildlife shows capturing on film gators attacking, usually small, prey at the shoreline not necessarily in the water.

Folks need to understand if they have been feeding gators at WDW they are partially responsible for that's child's death.

Again, crocs not gators. But, there's an account in Death In The Long Grass of a crocodile rushing out of the water & snatching an impala on dry land. The witnesses later measured the spot the impala was standing - 37 feet from the water.

And impalas are a LOT faster than people.

 

[robinb]

I was just watching something on crocs - yes, I know different species. Anyway, as soon as the big one snatched a Wildebeest, 3 dozen others came RUSHING over. From what I've seen, reptiles in general aren't bashful about trying to steal meals from each other.

BTW, a lot of people don't know about the existence of the American Crocodile. They are very closely related to the African Nile Crocodile. They were once critically endangered, but are in recovery & are moving North out of the Everglades. Scientists studying them have used lasers to measure them from a distance (because getting close would be too dangerous), and have documented many live specimens in excess of 16 feet in length.

Yikes! 16 feet in length!

 

[FigmentFinder]

Well, surprise! I know there are alligators in Florida, had no idea that there were alligators in every body of water. I know there are bears in my state, but know there won't be any in my town. You can pretty much be assured that if you are at Great Adventure, you won't run into any bears.

Actually there are two kinds of bears at Great Adventure. (on the safari) Don't be too sure about no bears in your town, they are all over in NJ. Maybe not in an urban town, but they pop up in every suburban town, just like alligators in Florida.

I'm not shocked by the thought there were two alligators, they are everywhere. I've seen them more than once staying at a Disney resort. They were smaller gators, but there's no reason larger gators couldn't swim in.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

I live in SW FL, Cape Coral to be exact. Here's a picture thst was in my news just today. It's a gator in a tree. Yes, in a tree. It is not photo shopped. It's from WINK NEWS. It's wildlife in FL.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

Or maybe the gators are conditioned to know a meal is near when they see people gathered near the shore. Since folks feed gators in WDW I expect you could see 2 or more gators congregating expecting to be fed.

Also for those who get hung up on whether the child was in the water or not: I don't think you have to be in the water to be attacked.

I've seen numerous wildlife shows capturing on film gators attacking, usually small, prey at the shoreline not necessarily in the water.

Folks need to understand if they have been feeding gators at WDW they are partially responsible for that's child's death.

Exactly. ...feeding a gator makes them fearless of humans and view us as food. Small children are viewed as prey, just as small animals are

 

[cabanafrau]

I live in SW FL, Cape Coral to be exact. Here's a picture thst was in my news just today. It's a gator in a tree. Yes, in a tree. It is not photo shopped. It's from WINK NEWS. It's wildlife in FL.View attachment 179745

I guess maybe I'm dumb, but I would have never expected an alligator up there, or even that an alligator would climb a fence to be honest. I had no idea until just recently that they had these behaviors.

 

[LisaR]

I live in SW FL, Cape Coral to be exact. Here's a picture thst was in my news just today. It's a gator in a tree. Yes, in a tree. It is not photo shopped. It's from WINK NEWS. It's wildlife in FL.View attachment 179745

I was just coming on to post that exact same picture from Wink. Someone in the comment section said something like, "Well, there goes my plan of climbing up a tree if I'm ever being chased by an alligator."
While I've seen gators with their front legs standing upright on the trunk of a tree, I never knew they'd climb up and hang out on a branch. Wow!

 

[JimMIA]

I was just watching something on crocs - yes, I know different species. Anyway, as soon as the big one snatched a Wildebeest, 3 dozen others came RUSHING over. From what I've seen, reptiles in general aren't bashful about trying to steal meals from each other.

BTW, a lot of people don't know about the existence of the American Crocodile. They are very closely related to the African Nile Crocodile. They were once critically endangered, but are in recovery & are moving North out of the Everglades. Scientists studying them have used lasers to measure them from a distance (because getting close would be too dangerous), and have documented many live specimens in excess of 16 feet in length.

American crocodiles quite different from Nile crocs and are not nearly as aggressive as Nile crocodiles or Australian "freshies." Nor are they as aggressive as American Alligators, who are pretty non-aggressive for the most part. We have hundreds of American crocs (possibly several thousand) in South Florida -- a densely-populated area with more than 6 million people -- and zero incidents, although canoeists, kayakers, and fishermen see them every day.

If someone is measuring them with a laser, it's because they can't get close enough, not because of any danger. A lot of what you see on TV is just drama that has little to do with fact -- just spicing up the story. You'll see a lot of silly stuff on TV, including on National Geographic. In fact, researchers actually dig up croc nests to count the eggs with the Mom lying right next to the nest. (they cover the eggs up when they're done, of course). With alligators, they have to chase Mom off and hold her at bay while they examine the nest.

Crocs were endangered in North America. I'm not sure what their precise status is now because there is a state list and a national list -- but I'm sure they are at least threatened on both lists. American Alligators are still protected primarily due to their similarity to the American Crocodiles.

 

[JimMIA]

The lady in the video leaves me speechless. Are people really that clueless?

That's nothing. At Everglades National Park, we have visitors actually walk up and touch the alligators. Of course, many of them are from other countries and don't think they are real. It's quite amusing when the alligator moves a little!

One clown actually had his six year old daughter "...hold the alligator's hand" for a picture. That was an 11-foot alligator. That's not rumor; I saw it myself. We couldn't do anything for fear of spooking the alligator, but afterwards one of the rangers wrote the moron a $500 ticket. His comment? "It was a $500 picture."

As Dave Barry says, "You can't make this stuff up!"

 

[bcla]

We've had one that has popped up ALL OVER Missouri these past 2 years. He's twice been trapped by the conservation department & released (he hasn't been a nuicance). They now have a tracking collar on him & you can follow him online. He shows up 75-100 miles up the road just days after being somewhere else. He's crossed the Missouri River several times, probably using highway bridges.

Bears have been sighted on WDW property. Not as much as north of Orlando, but I saw one dot for Bay Lake.

http://interactive.orlandosentinel.com/bears/

 

[cabanafrau]

American crocodiles quite different from Nile crocs and are not nearly as aggressive as Nile crocodiles or Australian "freshies." Nor are they as aggressive as American Alligators, who are pretty non-aggressive for the most part. We have hundreds of American crocs (possibly several thousand) in South Florida -- a densely-populated area with more than 6 million people -- and zero incidents, although canoeists, kayakers, and fishermen see them every day.

If someone is measuring them with a laser, it's because they can't get close enough, not because of any danger. A lot of what you see on TV is just drama that has little to do with fact -- just spicing up the story. You'll see a lot of silly stuff on TV, including on National Geographic. In fact, researchers actually dig up croc nests to count the eggs with the Mom lying right next to the nest. (they cover the eggs up when they're done, of course). With alligators, they have to chase Mom off and hold her at bay while they examine the nest.

Crocs were endangered in North America. I'm not sure what their precise status is now because there is a state list and a national list -- but I'm sure they are at least threatened on both lists. American Alligators are still protected primarily due to their similarity to the American Crocodiles.

That strikes me as odd for any species. Usually a mother with her young is the fiercest creature you can encounter, for any species.

Not saying you're incorrect, just simply noting it's very unusual.

 

[JimMIA]

Bears have been sighted on WDW property. Not as much as north of Orlando, but I saw one dot for Bay Lake.

http://interactive.orlandosentinel.com/bears/

Bears are found all over Florida, just not in inhabited areas In south Florida, they are found both in Everglades National Park (but rarely) and much more often in Big Cypress National Preserve adjacent to Everglades to the north. There is an annual hunting season in Big Cypress.

 

[JimMIA]

That strikes me as odd for any species. Usually a mother with her young is the fiercest creature you can encounter, for any species.

Not saying you're incorrect, just simply noting it's very unusual.

Yep, weird but true. The critters don't always read the books.