Originally Posted By Labuda "Well, you don't know where a shark is going to attack but I'm not sure you should never go to the beach. The death we had here in Broward County was the first in 50 years. " BIG difference between sharks & gators - gators can get you on land or a beach. Sharks cannot. Totally safe from sharks on a beach - just don't get in the water.
Originally Posted By t1lersm0m ^^I think the point was, you can't live your life in fear of dying, especially from gators or sharks. Gators won't keep me from Florida, and sharks won't keep me from the ocean. I love both too much!
Originally Posted By disneydad109 We were at the club house at the ocean course on Kiawah Island a few years ago and saw 7 or 8 gators on the cart path. We were told to just drive around them and they would not be a problem. Is that a moveable hazard ?
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<Gators won't keep me from Florida, and sharks won't keep me from the ocean. I love both too much!>> Gators won't keep me from Florida either. But it is only common sense to stay away from the water during a period when you know that for whatever reason, the gators have been very aggressive lately. It's much the same as cold weather doesn't keep me from living in Minnesota, but I don't go outside in my shorts when it's -20 degrees. As for sharks… would they keep me from swimming in the ocean? No... unless there was a shark attack in the area. Then I would stay on the sand thank you. Florida has 3 deaths by alligator over the past month – extremely unusual by all accounts. It only makes sense to take extra care during a period of heightened activity.
Originally Posted By t1lersm0m ^^And how many people live and visit Florida? You can use the same comparison others have used about Mission: SPACE. Millions have ridden it, and only two have died. Does it stop you from riding? No! Seriously, this is similar to me once saying I'd like to go to Aruba, and my mother said no simply because of the Natalie Holloway (sp?) case. Do you know how many people go missing, get murdered or raped in major cities around the country? Am I going to swim in the waters around WDW? No. Am I going to walk around them? Of course! Gators are just as afraid of us as we are of them. The same goes with most wild animals. I'm going to Tennessee this Sunday for a week. A young child was just killed by a black bear a few weeks ago, and the mother was injured. Do you think that's going to stop me from going hiking in the mountains? NO! I'm not going to live my life in fear that something like that will happen to me. I'm more likely to twist my ankle coming down the stairs and falling and breaking my neck than I am to get attacked by a shark, gator or black bear.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip Let me know how it goes. I'll send you a get-well card if necessary. In my opinion you are WAY over-reacting to what I'm saying. I’m just saying people should exercise appropriate caution. Others seem to agree: <<Florida wildlife officials are warning residents to avoid areas where alligators are on the prowl. Three women have been killed by alligators recently, a disturbingly high number compared to the rate in previous years. VOA's Melinda Smith looks at some of the reasons why attacks have increased.>> <<University of Florida zoologist Kent Vliet says the posted wildlife warnings should be taken seriously. "You've got to be especially cautious anytime you're near water in Florida, and you have your dog with you, because alligators really key in to those things very rapidly and they get to thinking about feeding and they'll move in close and it's just a dangerous situation.">> Source: <a href="http://www.voanews.com/english/2006-05-18-voa39.cfm" target="_blank">http://www.voanews.com/english /2006-05-18-voa39.cfm</a>
Originally Posted By t1lersm0m <<In my opinion you are WAY over-reacting to what I'm saying. I’m just saying people should exercise appropriate caution. Others seem to agree:>> Sorry, I don't mean to seem like I'm over-reacting. It reminded me of my friend saying she wasn't going to swim at Myrtle Beach last year because of the shark attacks in the US last year.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip ^^^ OK. I generally agree with you. I usually don't worry too much about things like that. I just think with the gators being as active as they are this year it pays to use a little caution. My brother lives in Orlando, and he has told me that gators are EVERYWHERE. Normally no big deal, but this seems to be an unusual year.
Originally Posted By wahooskipper As a resident of Florida I will plead with you all NOT to feed the gators. That is what makes them more dangerous...when they associate humans with food.
Originally Posted By t1lersm0m Yeah, I in no way would ever feed gators. And I understand where you are coming from Trippy. Sorry for my over-reaction.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN >>Gators won't keep me from Florida, and sharks won't keep me from the ocean. I love both too much!<< >>Me neither<< I guess we are going to have to try harder next time.
Originally Posted By wdwlover i saw a gator by the pool at new orleans french quarter....come to think of it, i saw a couple, and they all had jazz instruments, and were shooting water into the pool (sorry, i couldnt resist)
Originally Posted By GalDisney well considring there are over 1 million gators in FL, and how many lakes there are, and how many rural and wet lands it is a good bet they are all over.
Originally Posted By DVC_dad <<<I find it hard to go to the toilet in Fla for fear of them coming up the pan.>>> LAMO HAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHA omg omg LOLOLOLOLOL *cardiac arrest*
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Bitten by a rattle snake age 10, now have a serious phobia of snakes!
Originally Posted By mickey_ring It's Disney so all them gators gotta be animatronical, right??? right?? hello?
Originally Posted By ssWEDguy >> It's Disney so all them gators gotta be animatronical, right??? << Except the ones in the riverbeds in DAK.
