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Small Gator Question
Posted on 7/16/17 at 5:33 pm
Posted on 7/16/17 at 5:33 pm
Buddy of mine rents a place on False River and over the last few weeks, he has spotted a small gator (3-4 feet tops) by his pier. All surrounding camps are bulk headed and water depth at the bulk head is 4+ feet so not really a friendly environment for him to hang out all the time. None of the neighbors are feeding him and they may see him every 2-3 weeks on very calm water days.
My buddy has a few small kids (8 and 10) and they always watch them when in the water but he is a bit concerned about them swimming.
1 - do small gators pose much of a threat?
2 - what are the odds of a licensed trapper getting him since he is only seen once every week or two?
Thanks in advance for the replies/suggestions!
My buddy has a few small kids (8 and 10) and they always watch them when in the water but he is a bit concerned about them swimming.
1 - do small gators pose much of a threat?
2 - what are the odds of a licensed trapper getting him since he is only seen once every week or two?
Thanks in advance for the replies/suggestions!
Posted on 7/16/17 at 5:37 pm to captainahab
Too small to be a real threat only concern might be smaller pets
Posted on 7/16/17 at 5:46 pm to captainahab
We had a 6'er a couple of years ago try to take a 50lb dog off the dock at the house. At 6' I start getting real careful
Posted on 7/16/17 at 5:47 pm to captainahab
there are well more than likely a few or many more you haven't seen
a small gator is zero threat but he won't stay small forever
a small gator is zero threat but he won't stay small forever
Posted on 7/16/17 at 6:01 pm to captainahab
quote:
1 - do small gators pose much of a threat?
2 - what are the odds of a licensed trapper getting him since he is only seen once every week or two?
1-No threat but that isnt the only gator there.
2- why would a licensed trapper want a small gator?
I swam in the canals at Holly Beach years ago and got within 5ft of some gators. Probably about 4 of them around 5-6ft each. I tread water for about 5 minutes next to them before getting out. They all just stayed there with their heads above water. An 8-10 footer probably would have saw lunch.
Posted on 7/16/17 at 6:01 pm to cgrand
Shine a light at night to know how many you have around
Posted on 7/16/17 at 6:02 pm to captainahab
People swim in there? I thought there were serious sewage concerns.
Posted on 7/16/17 at 6:08 pm to Geauxtiga
quote:
People swim in there? I thought there were serious sewage concerns.
You can't be this stupid?
Posted on 7/16/17 at 6:10 pm to tigerinthebueche
quote:Have never been, have no clue other than someone recently telling me it was sewage plagued. His in laws live in NR.
You can't be this stupid?
This post was edited on 7/16/17 at 6:11 pm
Posted on 7/16/17 at 6:22 pm to captainahab
Does he show fear of humans?
Posted on 7/16/17 at 7:06 pm to captainahab
It's not the one you see you need to worry about
Posted on 7/16/17 at 7:38 pm to rsbd
First off, people know how to estimate gators like the fish they catch. I can't tell you the amount of people that told me they saw a 14' gator.
A 3-4' gator is like 10-15 lbs. definitely not something to worry about unless you intentionally antogonize it. Most trappers won't mess with anything under 6'.
Even a 6' gator could only weigh 70lbs or less. 9' is when they really start to blow up in weight and you need to start worrying about them. I've caught 8 footers that were only 120 lbs so that length is not necessarily dangerous either. 9 is when they slow down and fatten up usually.
A 3-4' gator is like 10-15 lbs. definitely not something to worry about unless you intentionally antogonize it. Most trappers won't mess with anything under 6'.
Even a 6' gator could only weigh 70lbs or less. 9' is when they really start to blow up in weight and you need to start worrying about them. I've caught 8 footers that were only 120 lbs so that length is not necessarily dangerous either. 9 is when they slow down and fatten up usually.
Posted on 7/17/17 at 10:07 am to saintsfan1977
Very much appreciate the responses gentlemen!
My buddy either called the local Sheriff Dept or LDWF and they said he would have to PAY for a licensed hunter to come get the little guy. Supposedly it could be done for free if the gator is greater than a certain size and can be proven to be a “nuisance”.
No…get close (walk on the pier while he is in the water) and he high tails it.
He is having his beach house is St. Maarten re-modeled so he is spending the summer in New Roads instead.
quote:
saintsfan1977....2- why would a licensed trapper want a small gator?
My buddy either called the local Sheriff Dept or LDWF and they said he would have to PAY for a licensed hunter to come get the little guy. Supposedly it could be done for free if the gator is greater than a certain size and can be proven to be a “nuisance”.
quote:
TigerNAtux...Does he show fear of humans?
No…get close (walk on the pier while he is in the water) and he high tails it.
quote:
Geauxtiga…..People swim in there? I thought there were serious sewage concerns.
He is having his beach house is St. Maarten re-modeled so he is spending the summer in New Roads instead.
Posted on 7/17/17 at 10:26 am to captainahab
Only time we ever got out of the water for a gator as kids was when there was this one 7' around. Old lady a few camps down was feeding it and one day it ate her dog so we always watched to see if he was around until he was caught and relocated. Weren't many bigger ones but they always avoided people and we never cared about the smaller ones.
For us it had more to do with their behavior than size.
For us it had more to do with their behavior than size.
This post was edited on 7/17/17 at 10:28 am
Posted on 7/17/17 at 11:40 am to captainahab
What area is this camp located? I know some people seeing one as well.
Posted on 7/17/17 at 2:28 pm to PLaneTiger
quote:
What area is this camp located? I know some people seeing one as well.
Sand Bar/Bonaventure's side about a mile towards town....at least in that general area as I have not personally been to his camp.
Where are you hearing seeing one?
PS...I know there are plenty of gators up there but they usually keep to the flats on the south end and in general, don't like the rough water (mostly weekends) nor the deep water around the bulk heads.
Posted on 7/18/17 at 1:29 pm to captainahab
North end on the New Roads side
Posted on 7/18/17 at 5:04 pm to baldona
quote:
9' is when they really start to blow up in weight and you need to start worrying about them.
I went back and looked at a list I saw recently of fatal US gator attacks from the 70's up till now and 6 out of 17 where the alligator was identified were under 9 feet. All six of those victims were adults.
I didn't look further into the other fatalities to see if the sizes were listed elsewhere.
Still, though, that puts the threshold below 9 feet.
As far as pets and kids, I'd put the concern size at 6' or so.
This post was edited on 7/18/17 at 5:11 pm
Posted on 7/18/17 at 5:45 pm to Scoop
Curious so here is a list of attacks and sizes if determined.
Victim age/gender/offending gator length
1973: 16 yo female 11'3"
1977: 52 yo male 7'
1978: 14 yo male 11'
1984: 11 yo male 12'
1985: 27 yo male unidentified
1987: 22 yo male 11'
1988: 4 yo female 10'7"
1993: 10 yo male 11'4"
1993: 70 yo female 9'7"
1997: 3 yo male 11'
2001: 70 yo male 8'4"
2001: 2 yo female 6'6"
2001: 81 yo male 10'9"
2003: 12 yo male 10'4"
2004: 54 yo female 12'3"
2004: 20 yo female 7'11"
2005: 56 yo male 8'9"
2005: 41 yo male 12'2"
2006: 28 yo female 9'6"
2006: 43 yo female 8'5"
2006: 23 yo female 11'4"
2007: 83 yo male 8'
2007: 36 yo male 9'3"
2015: 28 yo male 11'
2015: 62 yo male 12'
2015: 22 yo male 11'
2016: Disney kid. Size hard to find. Most media says 4 to 7 feet
2016: 90 yo female unidentified
Victim age/gender/offending gator length
1973: 16 yo female 11'3"
1977: 52 yo male 7'
1978: 14 yo male 11'
1984: 11 yo male 12'
1985: 27 yo male unidentified
1987: 22 yo male 11'
1988: 4 yo female 10'7"
1993: 10 yo male 11'4"
1993: 70 yo female 9'7"
1997: 3 yo male 11'
2001: 70 yo male 8'4"
2001: 2 yo female 6'6"
2001: 81 yo male 10'9"
2003: 12 yo male 10'4"
2004: 54 yo female 12'3"
2004: 20 yo female 7'11"
2005: 56 yo male 8'9"
2005: 41 yo male 12'2"
2006: 28 yo female 9'6"
2006: 43 yo female 8'5"
2006: 23 yo female 11'4"
2007: 83 yo male 8'
2007: 36 yo male 9'3"
2015: 28 yo male 11'
2015: 62 yo male 12'
2015: 22 yo male 11'
2016: Disney kid. Size hard to find. Most media says 4 to 7 feet
2016: 90 yo female unidentified
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