[Rebelbase]

When I was a kid we used to swim in canals, lakes and rock quarries all over Dade, Monroe and Collier Counties in S. Fla. In 8 years there was only one time where a pair of gators acted aggressive towards us and we didn't get in the water.

The past 35 years of protected status on these reptiles has caused them to proliferate to the point of losing fear of man by occupying habitat in urban areas. There needs to be a purging and price drop in alligator skin boots/handbags for a while to get this situation under control.

[kinoxi]

i agree

[Thombo2]

I agree.Summers were idylic.Swimming in the lakes,hunting for snakes in the creeks and canals.....In all those yrs i saw lots of gators,but i never had a problem.Unfortunately one friend was attacked when he got a little too close to a females nest.Lost most of his calf muscle but survived.Now another person has been killed?Fox News just said it's gator mating season.That could explain the agression.Another factor may be that there are just too many gators for the available food supply.A controled harvest sounds in order.Gator tail anyone?