Gator Visits Suburb(gator's vertical climb)

Tampa Tribune ^ | 05/25/07 | FRED BELLET & GEOFF FOX

[TigerLikesRooster]

Gator Visits Suburb

Residents of the Morningside neighborhood in Meadow Pointe found an unexpected visitor Thursday evening. A 6- to 7-foot alligator wandered into the area and tried to climb the wall of a house.

By FRED BELLET / Tribune

By GEOFF FOX The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 25, 2007

WESLEY CHAPEL - A 6- to 7-foot alligator drew a small crowd of incredulous onlookers Thursday evening in the Morningside neighborhood in Meadow Pointe.

As the reptile attempted to climb the stucco wall of a house, near several electrical boxes, a woman across the street said, "Oh my God."

Pasco County sheriff's Deputy Todd Koenig said his agency was called to a house on Morning Mist Drive about 6:15 p.m.

Rick Skinner, onto whose property the gator crept, said it was the second one he had seen in his yard in five years. Homes on the street were built between at least two ponds.

"The other one was about a 5-footer," Skinner said. "It was in the middle of the night. We just left it alone, and it took care of itself.

"I would be of the mind to leave this one alone, too. If they trap it, they'll kill it, and what's the point of that? It's not hurting anybody."

Unfortunately for the alligator, Koenig said, a trapper had been called.

Neighbor Jennifer McCormick said she has seen about six baby gators in a nearby pond.

"Some people feed them," she said. "That's what I worry about. I have small children."

Wildlife experts advise against feeding alligators because they will associate food with people and perhaps harm someone.

[Yossarian]

"Having Nelson and Martinez as your Senators is enough to drive anybody up a wall!"

[Slings and Arrows]

"You forgot to pay your gravity bill!"

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[Major_Risktaker]

I know their is food on
the other side of this fence.

I just have to be verrry sneaky.

[PAMadMax]

Warming itself on the stucco bldg. from the residual heat of the day. Lizards do this such as Anoles, but a big reptile like a gator is a rarity.

[Daffynition]

Fixed.

[Daffynition]

Haven't we seen him going door-to-door before?

[Daffynition]

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

Feeding Gators is absolutely idiotic.

[from occupied ga]

Feeding Gators is absolutely idiotic.

Unless you play a recording of yappy little dogs while you're feeding them.

[Fairview]

Ah, the joys of living in Florida.

[ken5050]

Someone PLEASE photoshop a UF cap on the Gator...

[Slings and Arrows]

I guess the earth really did move.

[Daffynition]

The only good alligator izzzzzzzz...

[ApplegateRanch]

Feeding Gators is absolutely idiotic.

Depends on who or what you're feeding it to.

[SquirrelKing]

LOL - That was just up the road from me. The yankees were FREAKING out. =D

[Daffynition]

You live in a very weird neighborhood! LOL

[Daffynition]

Someone's been having fun with your 'gator!