New resident at Peacock Springs - July 2010

[FW]

Apparently the gator hides, but I dunno if anyone has actually spent any time actually confirming the gator is indeed hiding at this point, or has moved on...

Critter cam!

[SuPrBuGmAn]

I'd be up for just staking it out with some mosquito netting to keep the bloodsuckers off me.




We were quiet enough not to spook the beavers... and god knows I can spook a beaver into hiding.

[huxley]

We did see the small gator at P1 on Saturday the 10th laying on a log. Actually we surfaced from a dive and talked to some kids that were swimming/snorkeling when we surfaced. Little boy told us last time he was there it was covered in duckweed and we asked back if he was ever here when the gator was in P1 to scare him a little. kids looked around and said no but that there is a gator laying on a behind us. We thought that they now wanted to scare us a little, but sure enough there he was. We talked to the ranger and it was news to them, she things its one of the babies from the Gator at Bonnie. We did not see him on the Friday before and the Sunday after.
Ron and I hiked through the woods to check out Bonnet on Friday, no gator there at the time we looked, water was pretty clear, Ron mentioned he has not seen it that clear. Did not stay long, mosquitoes were bad there.

[phillip1]

The worst we have here are big tarantulas, foot long centipedes and industrial amounts of mosquitoes, but alligators that's hardcore.

[Puttzer]

There are no springs or other natural gator habitats in back yards (usually).

The fact is, the gators are there, and always have been. If you've been diving the the Florida springs more than a handful of times, you've been in the water with them. Just because you didn't see them doesn't mean they weren't there. The ocean has sharks; the springs have gators. It's a fact of life. This is nothing to get excited about.

Brian

Please tell that to the guy known on this forum who recently just about had his head taken off by a gator and really lucky to be alive.

[harmstrong]

Please tell that to the guy known on this forum who recently just about had his head taken off by a gator and really lucky to be alive.

Seriously? Seriously??

That was an isolated incident, and, I might add, Pete was not cave diving, he was snorkeling.

If you are so afraid of "critters" in the wild, perhaps you should stay in your safe, comfy living room.

We regularly see gators in the river, either on the way to or from lots of caves. Personally I enjoy it- "gator spotting" is part of the experience.

[SuPrBuGmAn]

I agree, I bring a long lense JUST for those instances I get to knab a good gator photo(ok, maybe a bird or two) on the way to a dive site.




We're in their house...





Although, I'm not convinced anyone but the beavers are squatting at Bonnet ATM. I'd just like confirmation that a gator is there, since thats the reason we are given for not being able to dive that system. I don't visit that area often, but when I do, I walk out to Bonnett just to go have a look... never seen any gators. Just mosquitos... and beaver.

[OFG-1]

I WAS JUST TRYING TO THUMB THE DIVE!

[sskasser]

I WAS JUST TRYING TO THUMB THE DIVE!

Should have used the twirly sign instead!

[Puttzer]

Seriously? Seriously??

That was an isolated incident, and, I might add, Pete was not cave diving, he was snorkeling.

If you are so afraid of "critters" in the wild, perhaps you should stay in your safe, comfy living room.

We regularly see gators in the river, either on the way to or from lots of caves. Personally I enjoy it- "gator spotting" is part of the experience.

I've seen kids and families play in these springs, unknowing of risks.
State Parks are not just for brave critter watchers. They are for children, families and even former Marines who don't like being called "afraid"