New resident at Peacock Springs - July 2010

[harmstrong]

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"

Dear me, yes, we must invoke the "children" when we extoll the virtues of the Nanny State.... It's obviously quite impossible for people to observe or interact with wildlife anywhere other than a zoo, where they are protected from potentially dangerous creatures!

By your logic we should remove every potentially dangerous creature from the face of the earth and lock it up where it can be safely observed.

[Sludge]

By your logic we should remove every potentially dangerous creature from the face of the earth and lock it up where it can be safely observed.

If you're talking about water moccasins...

[imdown]

I seem to recall a Bill Rennaker story about him trying to shoo a small gator off his favorite deco spot. Bill won the first round, but in the long run, he ended up finding another place to do his deco.

I've heard that story also. Steve Keene was with him and told me he about passed out from laughing so hard.

[ARY]

It is not a gator that closes spring it is officials who close it because of gator. God made caves for cave divers and animals to enjoy. So far animal enjoys Bonnie for many years while we are only taking pictures. Gators population in FL is well above all historical numbers. So apply for a kill online: http://myfwc.com/WildlifeHabitats/Alligator_index.htm

[Benthic]

...and even former Marines who don't like being called "afraid"

If the shoe fits...

I've been a cave diver for 15 years, and in that time I have never heard of a gator attacking a diver. Pete Butt was snorkeling at the time of his attack so, while he is a diver, he wasn't diving at the time. Now that doesn't mean that it hasn't happened...but it's very rare at best. Cave divers love to talk about how the sport is safe and how they're in more danger of dying on the highway driving to and from the site than they are during the dive. Well, there's also a far greater chance that you'll get into a car accident than be attacked by a gator. In fact, it's safe to say that divers are killing themselves with much greater frequency than they are being attacked or killed by the gators.

People are getting worked up about nothing here.

Brian

[SuPrBuGmAn]

So lets open Bonnet?

[Benthic]

So lets open Bonnet?

Agreed. Let's open Bonnet. If the gator is gone, then that's great! However, I suspect that even if the gator is gone Bonnet won't be opened up again until divers start to express a desire to go there again. Just a guess...

Brian

[LiteHedded]

I have a desire to dive there!

[SuPrBuGmAn]

Desired!

[Puttzer]

If the shoe fits...

I've been a cave diver for 15 years, and in that time I have never heard of a gator attacking a diver. Pete Butt was snorkeling at the time of his attack so, while he is a diver, he wasn't diving at the time. Now that doesn't mean that it hasn't happened...but it's very rare at best. Cave divers love to talk about how the sport is safe and how they're in more danger of dying on the highway driving to and from the site than they are during the dive. Well, there's also a far greater chance that you'll get into a car accident than be attacked by a gator. In fact, it's safe to say that divers are killing themselves with much greater frequency than they are being attacked or killed by the gators.

People are getting worked up about nothing here.

Brian

Well I dove there with the last gator. Let's go diving.
Funny how the divers' attitudes changed last time, when the gator lost it's fear and started coming closer to them.

Do we all agree the state will assume the legal risks for letting divers dives in poor viz water with a gator in it?
We got away with it the last gator.