Nuisance Alligator Hotline: 866-FWC-GATOR
An Englewood woman dies after being attacked by two alligators. A Sarasosta man was apparently swimming near Lake Manatee Fish Camp when a gator bit him on the arm. And a Lakewood Ranch gentleman describes his gator run-in as akin to a lightning strike.All in the last 30 days.
You think humans are at the top of the food chain? Don’t go near the water to prove it.
I may be overstating things, but we have ceded Florida fresh water to Florida alligators. That’s right. One-point-three million alligators have taken away access for us 21-point-two million Floridians to enjoy our waterways, lakes and ponds.
Think about it. You live near a pond, river or lake? You can’t take a quick dip. In the case of the Lakewood Ranch guy, you can’t retrieve a ball from a pond.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has the Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program or “SNAP.” Yes, really. Its website advises, “Generally, an alligator is deemed a nuisance if it is at least 4 feet in length and the caller believes it poses a threat to people, pets or property. There are situations when smaller alligators wind up in places that are not acceptable, such as swimming pools, garages, etc., and must be removed.” FWC asks we call the Nuisance Alligator Hotline. Right there on your screen. And FWC will dispatch a trapper. When was the lass time you saw a four or five foot gator? Maybe at Jungle Gardens on North Trail. Clearly not enough of us are calling.
Appearing on Suncoast P-O-V a few months ago, Justin Matthews of Matthews Wildlife Rescue told us if we walk up to a pond and a gator starts swimming towards us, it’s time to get out of there and call FWC, because it’s clear someone has fed the gator. Humans equal food.
This morning, I was talking to a resident of Myakka Valley Ranches. This fellow told me a neighbor feeds the local gators hot dogs. As my new friend observed, how does the gator know where the hot dog ends and the finger begins? Humans equal food. Got it?
I am not a Herpetologist (that is someone who studies gators). I don’t even play one on television. You and I need to use common sense. First, stop feeding gators. Second, if you see a gator that is big enough to swallow you or your dog, call the number below.
Video of gators in someone’s pool or ringing the front doorbells airs every spring here in Florida. It’s not funny anymore.
That’s how we view things this week. I’m Craig Burdick. Thanks for watching SNN, THE Suncoast News Network.