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Hoakie82

Joined: 01/01/2005 Posts: 23381
Likes: 6319


Yes & no. He was just walking & splashing in a foot of water alongside his


Dad. They weren't swimming. They were from Nebraska & maybe weren't aware of how ubiquitous alligators are in Florida now. They may have also thought they were safe in a man made lagoon at a resort.

I grew up swimming in the Hillsborough River in Tampa as a kid & was never fearful but they were a more a rarity in the 70's. Although, I do recall chasing a few in my 12 Boat that were as big as my boat. Thirteen years ago I was on a golf course in Tampa & while washing my hands in a small lake on the course, I had about a 6' gator lunge out of the water slamming it's mouth maybe a foot from my arm & head. Talk about a shock! I never saw it coming. I get how the estimate on this gator is between 4-7". It happens so fast. I got a great look at mine after it snapped at me because it didn't swim away. It just sat there at the edge eyeing me. I actually took my shirt off & dangled it & it came 3/4 of the way out of the water towards me. Since then I have a hole new respect for gators & wouldn't let any small kids or dogs near water in Florida.

I also wonder if splashing is an attraction to alligators because that's what I was doing with my hands & they said that's what this child was doing?

(In response to this post by UTPr0sim)

Posted: 06/15/2016 at 07:48AM



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Current Thread:
 
  
Child taken by alligator at Disney's Grand Floridian -- BMoreHokie 06/15/2016 01:06AM
  The fourth seal -- MrMojoRisin 06/15/2016 09:55AM
  Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm -- HokieDan95 06/15/2016 11:06AM
  Well it was a summer breeze. -- 48zip 06/15/2016 10:32AM
  If you really believe that -- HokieMacDaddy 06/15/2016 10:25AM
  Uhh...it's their property, their man made lake, -- Tommy Bowden 06/15/2016 10:32AM
  I couldn't disagree more -- HokieMacDaddy 06/15/2016 10:34AM
  You have a fundamental misunderstanding of the situation -- Tommy Bowden 06/15/2016 10:41AM
  But it's THEIR responsibility ** -- Tommy Bowden 06/15/2016 10:55AM
  To do what? ensure nothing bad ever happens? -- HokieMacDaddy 06/15/2016 11:04AM
  At some point common sense has to kick in! -- HokieFan14 06/15/2016 12:06PM
  Declare a "gator free" zone -- TomTurkey 06/15/2016 12:49PM
  Your words: "...but you can make it risk-free." -- 48zip 06/15/2016 11:11AM
  Come on now, prime gator habitat? -- Nova Hokie 95 06/15/2016 10:37AM
  What does it matter whether it's manmade or not? -- HokieMacDaddy 06/15/2016 10:40AM
  What does it matter if they sue Disney or not? ** -- vtbones 06/15/2016 09:50AM
  Just tie a piece of meat on the kid -- 48zip 06/15/2016 09:14AM
  That's confidential. ** -- 48zip 06/15/2016 11:25AM
  Yikes, rough week in Orlando. ** -- HokieNoVA 06/15/2016 05:58AM
  Take about 3 steps back from the jump to conclusions mat -- Tommy Bowden 06/15/2016 07:59AM
  Why would you take your shirt off and dangle it? -- Late 80s Hokie 06/15/2016 10:11AM
  Central Florida is not Virginia, Toto -- TomTurkey 06/15/2016 08:06AM
  Article I read said kid at shoreline not in water ** -- FfxStationHokie 06/15/2016 07:35AM
  Both idiot parents and the kid were in the water -- lchoro 06/15/2016 08:32AM
  Gators are deceptively fast SOBs -- PUAhokie 06/15/2016 08:11AM
  You can say that again! ** -- 48zip 06/15/2016 08:58AM
  I did! :) ** -- FfxStationHokie 06/15/2016 09:03AM

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