Gators love golf courses and it makes sense: The links are a near perfect habitat for gators – there are water hazards, plenty of birds to eat, and unless management calls a trapper, it's unlikely they'll be hunted or trapped.
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Is there such a thing as an American alligator on the golf course?
Mar 29, 2017 · — Charleston Cares (@BIFMCovers) March 27, 2017 Gators love golf courses and it makes sense: The links are a near perfect habitat for gators – there are water hazards, plenty of birds to eat, and...
Is it possible to play 18 holes and not see an alligator?
The American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) is an apex predator across the southeast U.S. and has surprisingly received minimal attention within urban areas. To investigate the potential effects of land development on alligator trophic ecology, we performed gut content analysis on golf course alligators found on Jekyll Island, Georgia.
How common are alligator encounters on Myakka golf courses?
Oct 15, 2014 · The majority of alligators are non-threatening to humans. “Nine times out of 10 that alligator isn’t going to be a threat,” he says. “Talking with some of the people that work on the golf course, I haven’t really heard anything negative about interactions with alligators.” A golf course represents an ideal spot to view alligators.
Are there alligators in the Everglades?
Mar 12, 2015 · But according to natives, a 12ft-long American alligator’s cameo during a leisurely golf game isn’t one of them. Photos of a massive gator lounging near the 7th hole at Myakka Pines Golf Club ...
How fast can an alligator go?
Adult male gators can reach upwards of 15 feet in length. Alligator can reach speeds on land up to 11 mph and thanks to their superior aquatic capabilities 20 mph swimming. Their preferred hunting style to to stalk prey in the water.
How far away should you be from an alligator?
If taking a photo or looking at an alligator, remain at least 50 feet away in distance.
How far can you drop a golf ball from a gator?
If you ball lands within 50 feet of a gator, take a free drop on the other side of the fairway preferably with the golf cart between you and the gator. (not official USGA rule but I will allow it)
What to do if your ball goes in the water?
Scan the shore and water line of any water hazard you approach. If you ball goes in the water, look before you get too close the water line.
Do alligators lie?
Alligator warning signs are everything. They do not lie.
Why don't alligators see humans?
Jay Butfiloski, alligator program coordinator for the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, says alligators don’t view humans in upright positions as prey because normal human behavior and posture contrasts the activity of animals that are regular parts of alligator diets such as fish, turtles, birds and small mammals. “You’re upright, you’re six-foot tall,” he says. “You’re not something that they would normally see and think, ‘That looks like a pretty good meal.’ Size-wise it just doesn’t fit.”
Where are alligators found?
Louisiana and Florida are alligator havens. Louisiana’s alligator population approaches 2 million, according to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Florida’s population rests between 1.25 million and 1.5 million, according to Vliet. Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, Texas and Mississippi also boast significant populations. The numbers are encouraging considering the American alligator was included in the Endangered Species Act passed in 1973. The Fish and Wildlife Service removed the animal from the endangered species list in 1987.
How did Bradley build the alligator basking platform?
Bradley constructed the platform by using triple-rinsed, 30-gallon drums that were sealed up as a floating base. Bradley connected the drums with 2x4 boards and built a wooden ramp allowing alligators to easily climb onto the platform. Birds immediately landed on the platforms because it offered an ideal spot to scout fish. Painting it black helped retain heat, thus increasing alligator activity on the structures.
How did Tripod lose his right leg?
Nobody knows for sure how Tripod lost his front right leg, but alligator fights that leave the loser without a leg are common. “An alligator missing a leg is not a rare spectacle,” Vliet says. “It happens from fighting or it can be from predation. It often happens when they are young and small.”
How many alligators were killed in Florida in 2013?
Florida’s abundant alligator population creates an unforgiving situation for nuisance alligators, which are animals measuring at least four feet and potentially posing a threat to people, pets or property. More than 8,000 nuisance alligators were removed and killed in Florida in 2013, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conversation Commission.
How far away can you see alligators?
When Sweet gives wildlife tours of The Sanctuary, he takes visitors to “Gator Beach,” where they can observe alligators as large as 10 feet from a safe distance. Experts recommend staying within 60 feet of an adult alligator. The Sanctuary also posts caution signs in areas frequently occupied by alligators. “People here have done a really good job of enjoying from a distance,” Sweet says. “That’s what we say: View from a distance.”
When is alligator season in Louisiana?
Louisiana’s alligator nesting season, which lasts from June to mid-July, can be a perilous period. Atchafalaya at Idlewild, located near the Atchafalaya Basin, the country’s largest wetland swamp, provides the proper elements for a successful hatch. “When it’s breeding season and egg-laying season, we know what areas to avoid and we just don’t go into those areas,” McMinn says. “Some females can be pretty aggressive.”
Is it rare to see prehistoric reptiles in Florida?
Online, Floridians vouched for the photos being authentic (as did the golf club), if a bit mundane – with many saying that sightings of the prehistoric reptiles in populated areas are not all that rare.
Is alligator hazard par for the course?
Alligator hazard is par for the course at Florida golf club | Florida | The Guardian
Is alligator hazard par for the course at Florida Golf Club?
Alligator hazard is par for the course at Florida golf club
Is the gator a male or female?
Morse declined to speculate on the creature’s weight, saying that photos can be misleading, but said there’s “no doubt” that it’s a male, given its size. It’s not an unusual sight, he said, particularly given the course’s proximity to Myakka River State Park, where visitors can go on boat tours to see gators in the wild.
What is the difference between an alligator and a mountain lion?
It seems like mountain lions are very intelligent, and seem to "calculate" what might be involved in an attack situation.
Can you stick your arm near the water to retrieve your ball?
Just don't stick your arm near the water to retrieve your ball. That's why they make these.
Can you get struck by lightning while golfing?
There's a much higher chance of being struck by lightning on a golf course. And if the OP is afraid of being attacked by an alligator while golfing, he/she should either take up shuffleboard or learn to hit the ball away from the water hazards. There's a much higher chance of being struck by lightning on a golf course.
