Was the Largo Gator Provoked?

[MuggsyB]

Apparently a 14 foot alligator had a human in its mouth and was euthanized.  The human did not make it.  My guess is this alligator wasn't targeting anyone but I suppose wildlife authorities didn't want to take any chances.

[#UnleashSean]

Does a .44 magnum to the skull count as euthanizing?

[MuggsyB]

Does a .44 magnum to the skull count as euthanizing?

That's what they always do.  I wonder what actually happened? 

[forgetful]

That's what they always do.  I wonder what actually happened?

There is a logical answer here. Gators are territorial apex predators, they saw potential prey, and killed it.

That's how biology works. Gator see, Gator kill.

[MuggsyB]

There is a logical answer here. Gators are territorial apex predators, they saw potential prey, and killed it.

That's how biology works. Gator see, Gator kill.

Why was the woman there? 

[forgetful]

Why was the woman there?

Is this a serious question?

There is a walking trail right where it happened in the middle of a city.

[MuggsyB]

Is this a serious question?

There is a walking trail right where it happened in the middle of a city.

Oh....I didn't realize that.  My bad. 

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

We used to have a place like less than a mile away from there and golfed at a course like two blocks from there.

There were gators in those ponds all the time. I would imagine she provoked it in some way. Gators are incredibly chill if you just leave them alone.

[MuggsyB]

We used to have a place like less than a mile away from there and golfed at a course like two blocks from there.

There were gators in those ponds all the time. I would imagine she provoked it in some way. Gators are incredibly chill if you just leave them alone.

That's always been my impression about alligators.....perhaps there should be a thorough investigation?  Any cameras in the vicinity?  Lethality is generally going to be the consequence of trifling with this species, especially if you are near its chompers.  I'm not saying the woman was at fault but there's a lot we don't know. 

[jesmu84]

Oh....I didn't realize that.  My bad.

You started a thread and made accusations before reading about what actually happened?

[MuggsyB]

You started a thread and made accusations before reading about what actually happened?

I thought it happened in the pond.  I apologize.  But we still don't know all the facts. 

[Herman Cain]

Apparently a 14 foot alligator had a human in its mouth and was euthanized.  The human did not make it.  My guess is this alligator wasn't targeting anyone but I suppose wildlife authorities didn't want to take any chances.

More to the story here......

https://nypost.com/2023/09/24/florida-woman-sabrina-peckham-found-in-gators-jaws-was-arrested-for-trespassing-two-months-ago/amp/

[MuggsyB]

More to the story here......

https://nypost.com/2023/09/24/florida-woman-sabrina-peckham-found-in-gators-jaws-was-arrested-for-trespassing-two-months-ago/amp/

Ty Herman. 

[Scoop Snoop]

That's always been my impression about alligators.....perhaps there should be a thorough investigation?  Any cameras in the vicinity?  Lethality is generally going to be the consequence of trifling with this species, especially if you are near its chompers.  I'm not saying the woman was at fault but there's a lot we don't know.

Thoughts and prayers. For the alligator of course. And the woman? She had it coming. The "thorough" investigation should be conducted by Congress.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

We used to have a place like less than a mile away from there and golfed at a course like two blocks from there.

There were gators in those ponds all the time. I would imagine she provoked it in some way. Gators are incredibly chill if you just leave them alone.

They are incredibly chill... until they're not. It's excessively rare that they're not but it does happen.

[NCMUFan]

We used to have a place like less than a mile away from there and golfed at a course like two blocks from there.

There were gators in those ponds all the time. I would imagine she provoked it in some way. Gators are incredibly chill if you just leave them alone.

I got to believe that was a hungry gator.
Why wouldn't they be opportunist?
If you are available and it is hungry and it can take you down, what is to stop them.

I had seen some incredibly large gators in a nature reserve on an island near Charleston SC when doing a sea kayaking/camping getaway.
There was no way I was getting within 100 feet of them. 

[MuggsyB]

I got to believe that was a hungry gator.
Why wouldn't they be opportunist?
If you are available and it is hungry and it can take you down, what is to stop them.

I had seen some incredibly large gators in a nature reserve on an island near Charleston SC when doing a sea kayaking/camping getaway.
There was no way I was getting within 100 feet of them.

Again, I do not know all the facts.  Maybe the alligator was hungry, provoked, or snapped for some unknown reason.  Maybe he/she was startled, had some anxiety, or simply had a bad day.  But you make a very valid point:   the most basic human response when encountering a animal of this power, size, and bite force is to tread lightly a.k.a. give them space.  Now it is conceivable this gator was famished and ran her down but that seems pretty unlikely.

[tower912]

Well, the gator and the dinner aren't talking.  Unless they can find evidence that the woman had been attacked by a human and left either in or near the water, the conclusion will be the gator attacked.  It is what they do.   The 3 year old at Disney certainly didn't provoke the gators or deserve to be eaten.

[MuggsyB]

Well, the gator and the dinner aren't talking.  Unless they can find evidence that the woman had been attacked by a human and left either in or near the water, the conclusion will be the gator attacked.  It is what they do.   The 3 year old at Disney certainly didn't provoke the gators or deserve to be eaten.

It's being investigated but I'm not sure what exactly that entails.  3 year olds are of course innocent when it comes to these rare situations.

[forgetful]

It's being investigated but I'm not sure what exactly that entails.  3 year olds are of course innocent when it comes to these rare situations.

3 year olds innocent. Homeless people who trespassed one time, apparently deserved to be eaten.

Seriously, the tragedy here is a person died. Nothing else in the story mattered.

[tower912]

Yes.

[MuggsyB]

3 year olds innocent. Homeless people who trespassed one time, apparently deserved to be eaten.

Seriously, the tragedy here is a person died. Nothing else in the story mattered.

I didn't say "she deserved to be eaten" but obviously there's a major distinction between a 3 year old child and an adult understanding  their surroundings  and certain dangers.

[Dr. Blackheart]

Gator in a smoker tastes like chicken.

[ATL MU Warrior]

Gator in a smoker tastes like chicken.

Gator does taste like a slightly chewier version of chicken. It's delicious.

[Scoop Snoop]

I didn't say "she deserved to be eaten" but obviously there's a major distinction between a 3 year old child and an adult understanding  their surroundings  and certain dangers.

You STILL cannot bring yourself to focus on the deaths of humans for even one single moment, can you? Jeezus, Muggsy, stop being the attorney for the alligator long enough to say something more than the need for adults regarding "understanding their surroundings and certain dangers". Twenty four posts in and you cannot do it. To use one of your favorite words, inexcusable.