03-07-2023, 03:10 PM
Hey Jeff, you been watchin' too many horror flicks. For the most part, snakes and gators try to avoid humans. Especially if they have been harassed or shot at before. So most of the ones you see are moving away...not toward. And they typically attack above water...not below.
Also, in areas where there is now a regulated hunting season and permits to harvest gators most of what you are likely to see are going to be less than 6' long. Yeah, they could cause some damage to you or your craft, but are mostly conditioned to get away from anything bigger than they are. Adult gators eat smaller gators all the time so the smaller ones are pretty wary. I have had a few smaller ones eyeball be from a distance while in my tube but they never came closer than within a few yards. And most of the bigger gators are harvested for their meat an hides by licensed gator hunters. Not all, but the survivors are more likely to be in remote areas and very cautious.
Most of the stories you see on the news about gator attacks come from along the waterways of parks and retirement communities in Florida. Those gators become accustomed to people...and pets...and often turn to snacking on unwary passersby.
Still, if I planned to launch in any particular area I would look around a bit first to try to determine whether or not I might have unwanted company. Without going into detail, I had more "bad encounters" with local people down there than I did with wildlife...especially in the back country down below New Orleans. I had to show my weapon a couple of times to get back to my vehicle safely.
Also, in areas where there is now a regulated hunting season and permits to harvest gators most of what you are likely to see are going to be less than 6' long. Yeah, they could cause some damage to you or your craft, but are mostly conditioned to get away from anything bigger than they are. Adult gators eat smaller gators all the time so the smaller ones are pretty wary. I have had a few smaller ones eyeball be from a distance while in my tube but they never came closer than within a few yards. And most of the bigger gators are harvested for their meat an hides by licensed gator hunters. Not all, but the survivors are more likely to be in remote areas and very cautious.
Most of the stories you see on the news about gator attacks come from along the waterways of parks and retirement communities in Florida. Those gators become accustomed to people...and pets...and often turn to snacking on unwary passersby.
Still, if I planned to launch in any particular area I would look around a bit first to try to determine whether or not I might have unwanted company. Without going into detail, I had more "bad encounters" with local people down there than I did with wildlife...especially in the back country down below New Orleans. I had to show my weapon a couple of times to get back to my vehicle safely.