Vernon in Virginia~Formerly Alaska
New member
FOXNEWS.COM HOME
Grrr! When Alligators Attack
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
By Mike Straka
More people are killed by deer in Florida than alligators.
So why aren't we seeing "Attack of the Killer Deer" stories on our Web sites, news channels and local news broadcasts?
Somebody feed me to the gators, please, and I don't mean the NCAA basketball champions, either. Hear that scream in the distance? That's me reacting to yet another live shot about alligators.
Sure, three people are dead and I feel sad. After all, joggers should be safe when running next to gator-infested waters, shouldn't they?
Maybe illusionist David Blaine, for his next stunt, can try to set the record for most survivals of alligator attacks by going to live in the Florida Everglades with no mosquito nets or insect repellent. I bet ABC would pay him a few million for the rights to broadcast that.
I don't know what's more annoying: stories about when alligator attacks, David Blaine, another item about Katie Couric taking over the "CBS Evening News" or how current anchor Bob Schieffer is getting the royal shaft.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mike,
"After all, joggers should be safe when running next to gator-infested waters, shouldn't they?" Hmmm... key words in there "gator-infested" might be the reason we are having so much "gator trouble" now. With an estimated 1.5 to 2 million alligators and some salt water crocs in Florida, eating people and pets, you might ask yourself this question: Do we need that many gators in Florida?
I lived in Florida in the mid-60's. As a professional fishing guide, I can tell you there were too many gators then. You stated in your column that more people are killed by deer than alligators, but you neglected to say how these deer were killing people, or how many were killed a year. Hitting a deer with a car hardly qualifies as a deer killing a person but visa versa. I can't remember of an instance when a deer ambushed a person, dragged them in the brush and ate them while they were still alive and screaming ~ can you?
Gators may have been endangered in Florida at one time (more likely the correct number of gators per square mile at the time), but there is definitely too many now. They're becoming more than a nuisance, by walking across lawns, entering garages and basking in private swimming pools. But when they start snatching babies from backyards, and joggers from jogging trails, some red flags should go up.
There's usually three main reasons that animals become endangered: One, natural causes, such as climate change, loss of habitat. Two, the species was hunted near extinction for profit. And three, the species was purposely eradicated because they are dangerous for co-habitation with humans. I have no problem with gators living out in the middle of the Glades, dismal swamps, etc. But when there begins to be too many in public places, they need to be checked. I'd rather see a nuisance gator die, than a jogger, a kid swimming, or babies sitting on a blanket in the backyard.
Vernon Cross
Mean ol' killing machine (croc)
[attachment 27363 croc.jpg]
Grrr! When Alligators Attack
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
By Mike Straka
More people are killed by deer in Florida than alligators.
So why aren't we seeing "Attack of the Killer Deer" stories on our Web sites, news channels and local news broadcasts?
Somebody feed me to the gators, please, and I don't mean the NCAA basketball champions, either. Hear that scream in the distance? That's me reacting to yet another live shot about alligators.
Sure, three people are dead and I feel sad. After all, joggers should be safe when running next to gator-infested waters, shouldn't they?
Maybe illusionist David Blaine, for his next stunt, can try to set the record for most survivals of alligator attacks by going to live in the Florida Everglades with no mosquito nets or insect repellent. I bet ABC would pay him a few million for the rights to broadcast that.
I don't know what's more annoying: stories about when alligator attacks, David Blaine, another item about Katie Couric taking over the "CBS Evening News" or how current anchor Bob Schieffer is getting the royal shaft.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mike,
"After all, joggers should be safe when running next to gator-infested waters, shouldn't they?" Hmmm... key words in there "gator-infested" might be the reason we are having so much "gator trouble" now. With an estimated 1.5 to 2 million alligators and some salt water crocs in Florida, eating people and pets, you might ask yourself this question: Do we need that many gators in Florida?
I lived in Florida in the mid-60's. As a professional fishing guide, I can tell you there were too many gators then. You stated in your column that more people are killed by deer than alligators, but you neglected to say how these deer were killing people, or how many were killed a year. Hitting a deer with a car hardly qualifies as a deer killing a person but visa versa. I can't remember of an instance when a deer ambushed a person, dragged them in the brush and ate them while they were still alive and screaming ~ can you?
Gators may have been endangered in Florida at one time (more likely the correct number of gators per square mile at the time), but there is definitely too many now. They're becoming more than a nuisance, by walking across lawns, entering garages and basking in private swimming pools. But when they start snatching babies from backyards, and joggers from jogging trails, some red flags should go up.
There's usually three main reasons that animals become endangered: One, natural causes, such as climate change, loss of habitat. Two, the species was hunted near extinction for profit. And three, the species was purposely eradicated because they are dangerous for co-habitation with humans. I have no problem with gators living out in the middle of the Glades, dismal swamps, etc. But when there begins to be too many in public places, they need to be checked. I'd rather see a nuisance gator die, than a jogger, a kid swimming, or babies sitting on a blanket in the backyard.
Vernon Cross
Mean ol' killing machine (croc)
[attachment 27363 croc.jpg]
