What Happened to the Gator

[bassin_bug]

I promised to let someone know what has happened to the Alligator that is in my fish pond. As you may know, I called the State Fish & Game Law Enforcement division and requested that it be captured and removed. An officer came and searched around but was unable to locate it. He did find tracks where it had crossed the road going to a couple of other ponds. There had been no request by those property owners for assistance and he didn't search any further. He was told by someone that, an a--hole transported 3 small gators from Louisiana, while on his way home from working offshore oil wells, and dropped them into the pond. This was 4 or 5 years ago and they weren't noticed until this one showed up.

The Game & Fish Officer visited a couple of houses nearby and explained that species of alligator was not a threat to the community, children, or pets. He told them it is an endangered animal and was protected by Federal laws and if anyone fed, trapped, harassed, or killed the animal, they would be charge with a federal crime. That type gator's main diet consists of turtles, snakes (rattlers included), beaver, otter, and frogs. Seldom do they eat fish unless there is nothing else to eat.

While he was talking to one particular family, he said a little 3 year-old boy was standing nearby, listening intently. The little boy walked over to the officer, propped his elbows on the officers knee and said, "I eat alligator." The mother says, "HUSH, we don't eat alligator." The little boy said, "Yes we do Mommy, we eat fried alligator." The officer said there had been no mention of eating alligators. They haven't eaten this one because it has been seen since then but I think the boy heard someone making plans for it.

After the Officer came to try and trap it and visited the homes, that night the road was blocked with vehicles and my place was covered with redneck SOB's shining spotlights into the pond. People had also been shooting at deer across my front lawn. I called the officer and told him about it; and asked him to leave the alligator in the pond and make sure that it was protected because it was not a threat to children or pets. He is aware that the land is posted with "No Trespassing" and "No Hunting" signs. He has reported the incident to the county Sheriff and asked for regular patrols. He called me and said that both the State Fish & Game officers and the Sheriff's department would be making regular day and night patrols to try and catch the people.

I tried to help the community by having the gator(s) removed. After they turned it into a circus, trespassed on my land, and night hunted, I decided to give them what they deserved and asked the Officer not to trap it. I called one of the men involved and told him if I ever heard of or saw anyone on my land again, I would have him charged first and we'd take it from there; that they had better stuff their spotlights and guns where the sun doesn't shine or I would do it for them. He was surprised when I called him about it so early the morning after it happened and how I found out about it with me living over 500 miles away.

A friend told me that I've been called some names that are not used in church; that someone said I'm "dangerous" because they saw me wearing a handgun strapped to my side. I plead guilty because I always do that when I'm alone walking through the woods on my property. LOL

[Devils Horse]

If it's the same species of gator that's in Florida, use precaution. What the guys says is generally true, 99% of the time they're harmless, I've swam and fished near them many times with no problems. There are however documented attacks on humans including some fatal ones.

When I lived in Florida, mostly what I heard of was small lapdogs disappearing from the edges of suburban ponds where people had fed the gators. If a critter will eat beaver or otter, they'll eat a small pet given certain circumstances. I don't care what the officer said, NEVER let a small child play near the edge of a pond where a gator of any size is known to be.

[JD7.62]

I'm curious, what species of gator is not a threat to children or pets and doesnt eat fish?!? There is only one species of alligator in the U.S. (two in the world), Alligator mississippiensis. The American alligator does eat fish, has harmed and killed people and pets, though rare. I just wouldnt let a child wonder around the pond alone at night and you should be fine.

Its sad to here an "expert" give out so much false information that your wild life officer did. Gators are NOT endangered, they are one of the true success stories of conservation (Alabama actually led the effort for protecting gators well before any other state). Alligators are now of "least concern" on the IUCN red list, meaning that we are no longer really worried about their population. They are still protected, like many other non endangered animals, however hunting them and removal of nuissance animals is completely legal with the correct leg work done.

I wouldnt be surprised at all if the alligators were NOT released but instead are just re-populating their historical range. You should be glad to have such a picky visitor take up residence on your property and who knows maybe he'll snag one of those pesky poachers!

At six feet he is just a baby, maybe 8-16 years old. He has the potential to live in your pond, provided its big enough and with enough resources for him, long after you and I are gone from this Earth.

[roadrunner]

A friend told me that I've been called some names that are not used in church; that someone said I'm "dangerous" because they saw me wearing a handgun strapped to my side. I plead guilty because I always do that when I'm alone walking through the woods on my property. LOL

Gun Karate PMS I can understand how they might reach that opinion even though it is probably wrong!!!! However I will try and stay on your good side just in case.

Love your post

Beep Beep

[bassin_bug]

A friend told me that I've been called some names that are not used in church; that someone said I'm "dangerous" because they saw me wearing a handgun strapped to my side. I plead guilty because I always do that when I'm alone walking through the woods on my property. LOL

Gun Karate PMS I can understand how they might reach that opinion even though it is probably wrong!!!! However I will try and stay on your good side just in case.

Love your post

Beep Beep

______________

"Gun, karate, PMS?" I must be as dumb as "owl grease" because, for a second, I thought you may be thinking women should be weaklings. Maybe you need to get more in touch with your feminine side and let us teach you how to be confident, strong and independent.

Gun= I know the difference between the barrel and the trigger; hold several marksmanship medals; and am a former Narcotics Undercover Agent. Left it behind when I got my Ph.D in Psychology.

Karate= You bet! I guess I'm just too dumb to hunker down and pee when I see danger or trouble coming my way. I never go looking for it; I never go running from it.

PMS= It's what you make of it. I don't have symptoms until someone lights fire to my tampon fuse.

The reason I wear a sidearm is because a lot of my land has never had the timber cut and, along with the acorns and abundant food supply comes lots of wildlife. The trees are so large and tall that the sun never shines on the ground in that area. It's like heaven on earth to go back there and watch the wildlife and listen to nothing but the sounds of nature. It is not without it's risks though because there are many huge diamondback and timber rattlesnakes around. That's one very good reasons why I carry a sidearm.

[mhall]

A former Narc Agent Huh, Bug I knew there was sumpin about you...... Where is that pic though I ain't stoppin till you give in, lol.

[bassin_bug]

I'm curious, what species of gator is not a threat to children or pets and doesnt eat fish?!? There is only one species of alligator in the U.S. (two in the world), Alligator mississippiensis. The American alligator does eat fish, has harmed and killed people and pets, though rare. I just wouldnt let a child wonder around the pond alone at night and you should be fine.

Its sad to here an "expert" give out so much false information that your wild life officer did. Gators are NOT endangered, they are one of the true success stories of conservation (Alabama actually led the effort for protecting gators well before any other state). Alligators are now of "least concern" on the IUCN red list, meaning that we are no longer really worried about their population. They are still protected, like many other non endangered animals, however hunting them and removal of nuissance animals is completely legal with the correct leg work done.

I wouldnt be surprised at all if the alligators were NOT released but instead are just re-populating their historical range. You should be glad to have such a picky visitor take up residence on your property and who knows maybe he'll snag one of those pesky poachers!

At six feet he is just a baby, maybe 8-16 years old. He has the potential to live in your pond, provided its big enough and with enough resources for him, long after you and I are gone from this Earth.

The FGLEO didn't say the gators would not eat fish, he said they also eat other animals and would eat fish if other animals were in short supply. I've read extensively on this species of alligator and I know what dangers they pose. There are fewer in my county although they are abundant enough in four counties, 100 miles to the south, that a lottery is held so they can be hunted, provided the hunter has a license, permit, and a tag. Hunting them is not permitted in my county.

My property is posted and I've visited the homes of everyone along that road asking them to stay away from the pond. The Officer has done the same thing. There are only two children living on that road and their parents were warned by the officer to keep them away from the pond. He is not a nuisance animal and if I ever hear that he is, I have the phone number of the State Fish & Commission.

There is absolutely no reason for anyone to be around the pond except my husband and me.

[bassin_bug]

A former Narc Agent Huh, Bug I knew there was sumpin about you...... Where is that pic though I ain't stoppin till you give in, lol.

_______________________

I guess you don't like me now, huh? Sorry, but I did catch a couple of BIG 'fish.'

[roadrunner]

Maybe you need to get more in touch with your feminine side and let us teach you how to be confident, strong and independent.

teach me teach me

beep beep

[mhall]

_______________________

I guess you don't like me now, huh? Sorry, but I did catch a couple of BIG 'fish.'

Quite the contrary Miss Bug, I am and will always be a firm and steadfast supporter of all law enforcement agencies.

Now back to that Pic?????

[Devils Horse]

_______________________

Sorry, but I did catch a couple of BIG 'fish.'

Whatsat mean, this whole thread was a troll? If so, you should stop using live bait.

And for goodness sake send Mark a pic. Scan one in from Liddy's 'Stacked and Packed' calendar if you need too. He won't be able to type for a week.

[mhall]

Whatsat mean, this whole thread was a troll? If so, you should stop using live bait.

And for goodness sake send Mark a pic. Scan one in from Liddy's 'Stacked and Packed' calendar if you need too. He won't be able to type for a week.

LOL, I am a persistent Cuss aren't I.......................