Re:[Paddlewise] alligators (used to be bears)

I haven't been around bears much - seen them on the road in Aplachian
Mountains but never on trail or in the boundary waters - have spent 40 days
there so far.

But I have been paddling with alligators for about 30 years and never have
had an incident.

One does not paddle close to shore in alligator country.  Alligators think
the safest place to be is at the bottom of a body of  water but they like to
lay on the bank and sun.  Then along comes a kayaker or canoer and surprises
the alligator and the alligator "attacks",  that is he runs to the water,
sometimes over the kayaker or canoer in his way. One of my friends had a
four foot alligator take over his canoe in just this way. A few alligators
and I have excited each other when I forgot to paddle in the middle of a
stream.

If alligators are not habituated to humans, they are extremely shy.  If they
are around a lot of boaters, they will allow people to approach them more
closely before hiding in the bottom of the water.  But if they have become
accustomed to being fed, they are just as likely to to eat the feeder as the
food.  (They do have very small brains)  Never feed an alligator, never go
near a huge pile of rotting vegetation - that is the nest and is being
guarded by the moma, and never pick up a baby alligator. One Parks and
Wildlife Ranger, who manages alligators, took his son with him one night.
The son picked up a baby alligator and they took it back in the boat.  The
baby started peeping and the mom started chasing the boat until they threw
the baby back in the water.   If you hear an alligator hiss, you are much
too close and are in his space.  I have only heard this from partially tame
alligators that people had fed.  If and alligator doesn't sink as you
approach it, back off  quickly. And don't take a dog in the boat that might
jump in the water.  We have had alligators take dogs from yards and one Lab
was taken while practicing retreiving in a small pond on the campus of UH
Clear Lake. Also keep them well away from the shore while you are camping
with them.

These are good rules for Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi alligators.  But I
would be even more careful in Florida.  Many of those alligators have to
live too close to humans and are much more unpredictable.  I think the child
that got taken was swimming where a large alligator was known to live.  I
have swum with a 4 foot alligator that used to hang out near a camp we used
for Sierra Club meetings but I didn't plan to swim with him after he got
over about 5 feet. We have also canoed in that area and when we shown a
large flashlight, could see the reflections of 15- 20 alligator eyes.

All animals need to know you are there before you get too close to them and
they need a way to escape.  This includes snakes and bears, for the most
part.

Marilyn Kircus


 Date: Tue, 24 Jun 2003 11:30:34 EDT
> From: Harley1941_at_aol.com
> Subject: [Paddlewise] Alligators (Used to be Bears)
>
>     Lets talk about alligators for a while. They seem to be spreading in
the
> southern states and are getting more aggressive. I have paddled in the
> Okefeenokee Swamp and have notice two type alligators. One which seem to
be adapted
> to humans and the other type is shy of humans. I don't know which would be
the
> most dangerous. But it is a little unsettling to send your 10 year old son
to
> throw some trash in a dumpster at a state campground and have him come
back
> big eyed and excited by an alligator. Not just a little bitty
alligator...it was
> a 14-16 foot, full grown alligator. He lives in the camp site and begs for
***************************************************************************
PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed
here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire
responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author.
Submissions:     PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net
Subscriptions:   PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net
Website:         http://www.paddlewise.net/
***************************************************************************