[ZULU]

The best defence against an alligator (or croc)?

A large heavily bristled push-broom. As they approach, push the broom into their eyes. They will back up and move away. I worked in an aligator - crocodile pond once and one of us fed the crocs and gators individually one by one with long metal tongs. The other keeper kept order by pushing the animals not being fed away with the broom. It worked. They had to be fed individually or the bigger animals would get all the mackeral and horse liver.

Alligators and Crocs howvever are "ambush" predators". In the wild, they lie concealed in the water's edge waiting for a fresh meal to approach unawares, then rush them. It isn't the croc or gator you can see that is the problem, its the one you can't.

By the way, a croc or gator can outrun a man for a short distance on land. Its obvious they can outswim us.

Interesting beasts - highly intelligent and distantly related to the Dinosaurs.

Another positive about gators - they just love fresh water moccassin. Cottonmouths are not common where there a lot of gators.

[fat city]

Awesome, ZULU, you have my most profound respect. Guess I'll put a broom in my bag next round.