"Broken 'X' Chromosome Syndrome"...:wink:

:yelrotflm:yelrotflm:yelrotflm

We Florida Folks sometimes feel like we are living in the 'great out back of critter world'. Sigh ... the price of sunshine.

Yes, I know !! :p and you are very welcome ...

I wonder if ther is any type of plexy or see through type of guard you could install that would protect you but still give you the view. My guess is that if there is, it is pricey.

Just be careful .. . .


Yea, I'll pass.... too scarry ! A visit if ever will be enought for me..

:D He he....don't be too sure.....there's probably one lurking around - turn left at the scorpions nest, and left again past the armadillos hideout - he's probably feasting on those tarantulas as we speak.....:eek: :D Sally + Harry x

Haha, hmmmmm maybe I need a pet gator to get rid of the other critters! :p:p I really don't think I can handle any more critters at this point! :eek::eek:

All you can do is take all the precautions that you can and then just enjoy your new home for all of the benefits it offers. Almost in any part of the country, there is some type of real risk to living there. When you do move, show us picture of that new home!

Hey, Sally, that's a great assessment. It is really hard to know exactly what is out there. :D

I am in Florida, too, but have never seen or heard of a gator in this area due to the location. But, in addition to other furry and slithery critters, we occasionally see those nasty 'velvet ants' walking in the yard...wingless wasps that have such a painful sting they call them 'cow ants' because the venom brings cows down. I have snatched my babies off the ground when there was a flash of red movement. :eek:

I thought I had problems with critters around where I live! I think that gators also dig. I know they can dig quite deep to bury eggs so if they wanted to get under a fence I'm sure they could. I would pretty much guess that it is not one lone gator. They don't live alone generally. They seek out other gators during mating season.

Anyway, I would contact a local fencing person who knows about how to make a fence that really keeps out gators. At least in the backyard! I would think it would have to go into the ground at least a foot.

We have a lot of wildlife here and one of the first things you learn is not to leave any kind of food outside. Not even your garbage. It needs to be kept locked up in a garage until garbage day. If you cook out take extra precautions. Animals are all about scent and long after you are done cooking they are still smelling that food!:eek: It just draws them into your area all the more.

Very Important...NEVER FEED THEM!! Feeding them is one of the major accident setups that can be made with gators from what I've seen of news reports. People get used to seeing the gators about, they don't do much...don't move around a lot, just lay there on the shore sunning themselves, and people mentally 'pet' them, give them names like "Old Bob" and throw them food as if they were ducks or squirrels. Well, unlike ducks and squirrels who become a nuisance after they get over their fear of humans, gators have no fear of humans and will snack on unsuspecting small dogs and toddlers, especially if the food supply drops off.

I'd say keep your distance and view them as a possible disaster awaiting execution...in spite of all the 'gator catcher' reality TV shows lately...and get as gator proof a fence as you can afford. :p

Oh, and, even if you put up a 8' stockade fence, if you want to maintain a view, maybe you could have your fencing company put some glass, plexi, or lexan 'windows' in it so you can still see the lake.

Thanks! Yes! I will do that. I have a ton of pictures already so I can resize and show you guys later. :D

Great idea. I think I am going to take a day off next week and see how we can remedy this. Thanks a lot everyone!:D:D

It's so true about food sources. Two of an animal's most motivational sources are mating and eating. Eating is something they do the most of. That is the reason why so many neighborhoods are having trouble with coyotes. The smell of garbage may be rotten to us but it is the dinner bell for wild animals.

I would really look into putting some sort of fencing below the ground level as well as above. Those gators have huge claws that can dig.

Yes. I agree that we need to be sure we are not throwing chum or anything like that off of our dock to attract them. As far as the fence, my husband is not keen on blocking the view or spending a whole bunch of money on a specialized fence. I am going to talk to the neighbors this week that have a little chi to see what thier thoughts are. I may end up having my husband create a little fenced in dog run on the side of the house for Max to run free. I can walk him on a leash a couple times a day and play with him in the side yard. Hopefully, I can get the gator removed and be able to relax a little. Thanks for all the advice. :D

excellent advise!! I know in Miami-Dade there are laws and fines relating to feeding gators. I just don't get how people feed any wild animal and then get upset when said animal comes into their yard. That is what I mean by my having some control over my yard.. I will not feed or tempt the gators... at least not knowingly. A couple of years past there were a couple of people killed by gators here.. one was a girl who was sitting in an area with posting of beware there are gators and dangled her feet in the water (I am guessing a bridge ?) and the gator jumped out and got her...the horror was she was on the phone with her mom at the time.
A large dog (a lab) was killed in Key Largo... he was out on the dock behind the house and a croc got him.. and the horror!!! I don't know people had been feeding him or not. So sad

I have a fence.. it is a decorative fence made with bamboo and chicken wire.. I can see the lake. I have thorny plants .. bougainvillea... planted to hide the wire and I think it looks nice. I put the fence about half way down the property, so it is not too close to the water.

When we first moved in the area and Sammy was a puppy he ran into the water... I could see the gator and I almost lost it...I was screaming like a banshee and ran to get him. The gator was far away and didn't even move.. I was so lucky!!!! Fence went up soon after