Florida Wakeboarders-Gators?

[BAAFISH]

This might be a silly question, but aren't there alligators in the inland lakes of Florida?
Have any of you whom have been to camps there or live there consider this before riding?
Just wondering before I enroll in a camp. I certainly do not want to put my children at risk of being eaten by a gator

[ZachR]

RE: Florida Wakeboarders-Gators?

I've been to a camp in florida, and they have gators in their lake. The key is knowing where they like to be, and when. I don't know much about them, seeing as there isn't much of a gator problem in San Diego, but for some reason I think they stick along the edges, not out in the middle of the lake. On the other hand, I might be blowing smoke right now, I really don't know.

And when I went, I wasn't even thinking about gators.

[NautiqueJeff]

Yeah, it is true that there are gators in Florida's lakes.

No, it doesn't stop me (or most other people) from going in.

This video was shot from Travis Moye's boat by Jim Spencer the week
we were down at The Boarding School.

[SNMike]

Gators feed in the early morning and dusk and night time hours. Mating season is when they're the most aggressive toward humans. The instructures at any notable camp will know where to stay clear of. Enjoy yourself, and don't worry. Mike Yellow_Flash_Colorz:

[Andrew]

lately, the local authorities have opened season on our lake (lake jackson north FL south AL)
they've gotten a 14 and 16 footer. a friend of mine shot a 13 footer on his pond a couple of weeks ago (he had permission from wildlife management)

it seems that they have been much more active this mating season, but i would not worry about ur kids at camp. like mike said, the instructors will probably keep an eye out for them, and they shoudn't be in any danger behind the boat

[tdc_worm]

for what it's worth, i grew up in rural central florida where gators are extremely common. from the time i first strapped on a set of trainer skis (4 yrs old) until the time i left for college, i skied/boarded alongside gators. i even used to walk around lakeside edges in weeds and muck up to my neck. never was i once scared of being attacked by an alligator. if anything, i was always on the lookout for cottonmouths.

as stated above, gators are more aggressive during mating season. additionally, they only lose their fear of humans once they start to associate them with food after stoopid people feed them. i know two women died recently in FL from gator attacks, but the odds of being attacked by a shark off the florida coast is way higher than being approached by an alligator. your kid will not get eaten by a gator.

[pachanga]

Isn't that why they call it "trollin for gators"?
As for mating season, I thought they wanted to eat you not **** you!

[NigelC]

I am interested to know more about the risks of cottonmouths. I am due to visit Florida in October and I dislike snakes.
Are they inquisitve? Are they aggressive? What is the real risk of getting bitten and where are they likely to be found, ie waters edge or can they be found mid lake etc.

[NautiqueJeff]

This picture was taken at the site of the new Correct Craft factory. It is where the driveway is now, before it was paved. A friend of mine down in Florida sent this to me today.

[ag4ever]

We had a 12' gator on one of our jobsites just south of Houston last year. Nobody was hurt, and animal control caught it an took it away.

I have always been told they won't attack you, but still am leary of them. I have also been told that nobody skis in Eagle Lake because there are too many gators there, so who knows.

I do know it is far more likly to be bitten by a snake. On the 4th I was moving a soft sided cooler we use for the boat from the patio so I could start the BBQ, and there was a black snake coiled up under it. Well, it lashed out, and since I had no shoes on, it bit me square on the big toe, TWICE. I was lucky since it turned out it was not a poisenous snake, and I had the "horse shoe bit" and not the two puncture bite. I still don't know what kind it was since I went one way it went the other, and I was is total shock when it happened.

Most snakes won't attack either unless then feel threatened. If you stay in well traveled areas there should be no snakes.

Did I mention I HATE snakes!!!!!!!!

I guess it stemmed from when I was a child, and we killed three to four copperheads a summer out at the lakehouse. Most of the time around dusk, and we would always find them when walking barefoot from the dock to the house. Many a ski have perrised in the brutal beating of the snake ritual.

[OldFart]

Yo Jeff, is it true that gator now works in WaterTest @ CC? Would be also great for checking underwater gear!

[OldFart]

Found this little jewel with my nikon rebel. He was vacationing near where I was staying last week. OF

[OldFart]

There is a great "park" I visit when in Orlando. Depending on time of day, we've seen plenty of gators (NOTE: NO fences), raccoon, deer, bobcat, & hords of stinky buzzards. It's amazing!

[OldFart]

another

[OldFart]

oops! Canon