Scared to move
 

My husband and I are finally moving to our house that we have been remodeling. It is a very nice house on the cove of a lake. The only problem is that I can hear a gator honking or barking all night long. :eek::eek::eek: I don't plan on kayaking with Max like this idiot Video shows gator attacking fisherman in kayak | News - Home (sorry if this is your bf;))or EVER letting him leave my site in the backyard but I can't help feeling paranoid about this. I have heard that gators can be very aggressive during mating season. I wonder is I could do anything to get this gator moved. I bet there are more. :thumbdown:mad: Any advice?

check your local laws about how to deal with them and see what home owners can do legaly to protect themselves. You could always have someone relocate it.

Nuisance Concerns: Alligators are considered a nuisance due to the potential danger they pose to pets or even children wandering near or swimming in Florida waters. Nobody wants an alligator taking up residence in their private pond or worse, swimming pool! If you encounter an alligator, do not approach or harrass it -leave it alone. If you have a problem with a potentially dangerous or nuisance alligator, please call them at 352-732-1225

Orlando Wildlife Control Info

If you need a professional wildlife trapper in Orlando, FL call AAAnimal Control: 407.538.1694

Thanks! That was so nice of you to search for me! I guess I could have looked that up myself. :rolleyes: Honestly, I did not think that I could get a gator moved only because I heard it honking or barking. I will give them a call ASAP. Thanks again! You're awesome!:D

I am finding a lot of articles about gators being on our lake. Maybe something we should have research BEFORE buying the house. Poor Maxiepoo is going to hate being on a leash all the time but better safe than sorry!

USATODAY.com - Florida teen rescues friend after gator attack in lake

omg, that little yorkie is very lucky. I am glad they are both safe

If your new place does not already have a fence, and you are thinking of putting one up, I believe the recommendation is to install at least a 6' fence. You may want to check the specifics, because gators can and do climb fences.

Congratulations. I hope you never have an issue! :D

What!?!? :eek::eek::eek: That is just crazy! Thanks!

Yes...I posted some pix/links in another YT thread...forget which one now...maybe I can find it for you, but, yes...when I first moved to FL in 1987 and learned that...total freak out. :eek: I'm better now, :p but I do not live near gator habitat and have no pool to attract them.

Here is the thread:

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/gen...ml#post3912964

Sorry to be the bearer of such news.

I have lived in Florida most of my life. I have lived on lakes that have gators in them. It is like any wild life... Gators are wild animals and if you respect that and take the right precaustion you will be fine.

Yes... Have a fense, don't let your dogs outside without being there.. Don't feed the gators etc. I am less afraid of gator then the buffo toads or snakes. :eek:

Let me add... I am very afraid of gators..but I don't plan on being in their way. Snakes and frogs are more Likly to be in my yard.

Thanks everyone! We ARE getting a fence; however, we were going to get a picket in order to maintain the view of the lake. I think we will have to make a change of plans! My husband was just telling me that there are probably so many gators off in the weeds that they may only move a gator that is being intrusive.

I definitely think that gator was after that Yorkie in the video posted above. They are so creepy. I worry about frogs too because they can kill dogs. Why don't men worry about this stuff?

Omg that's scary. I would be scared. DH moved me, a girl who had lived in town her entire life, to the country. It has been a change for me. We have to worry about coyotes, owls, hawks, snakes, etc. I think every where you go there is something. However, I will add, I am very thankful I'm not dealing with gators! :eek: Keep that baby safe. Oh and you don't want me to answer why men don't think about it! :eek:

Haha! I kind of do but I think I can guess. :asleep::snore::confuse8: LOL!

They don't think! Ever! :eek: I'll leave it at that! ;)

"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