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Friday, September 16, 2016

Sign of Our Times: Beware of Wildlife

We spotted something new in our South Florida residential neighborhood this week - Beware of Wildlife signs all around our ponds and lakes. Our feeling is that they are a sign of the times we live in.

sign of the times in florida - beware of alligators

We get it. If you are a tourist or visitor to Florida, maybe you don't know that we share our natural spaces with alligators. And snakes. And black bears and panthers and wild boar, to name a few more that didn't make it on the sign.

Maybe a tourist or visitor knows those wild animals live somewhere in Florida but they do not think they will be living in tourist-y places...but they do live there. Just so we are on the same page: alligators live everywhere in Florida. EVERYWHERE.

What we don't understand is why residents of Florida need to be reminded that there may be alligators or other wildlife living in or around a neighborhood lake or pond. We feel like if you live here, you should know at least that much about where you live. Yet we know that is not the case as there is often a story by a Florida media outlet telling of a resident who lost their beloved pet or, I hate to say, child to an alligator while walking along the lake's edge.

beware of florida alligators - they are everywhere

The recent alligator stories that have been in the news surely make us sad. We feel for people who lose loved ones, be them children or pets, to an alligator. However, we still have trouble wrapping our minds around the fact that people do not realize that in Florida at some point they will come across an alligator. Google Florida! There are plenty of pages that will tell you we have more than our share of dangerous animals.

But times are what they are so we get warning signs all around our natural conservation areas in the neighborhood. We are sure we will spot similar signs at our local parks and State parks as well. Hopefully, someone other than those of us who know to respect the wildlife will read them and heed their warning.





19 comments:

  1. Every year in Oz someone gets taken by a crocodile, they don't pay any attention to the signs.

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  2. The mama only had to see such a sign and she would run through the whole US.... maybe online-stores should have such a sign too... my daddy's wallet would like that :O)

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  3. Ooooohhhhhh....crocodiles....RUN!!!!!!!!
    Loves and licky kisses
    Princess Leah xxx

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  4. Holy crap! Run for the hills
    Lily & Edward

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  5. I'm upset that the sign doesn't warn about us angry birds.

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  6. In isn't just tourists sadly too many people who relocate don't learn about the areas they are moving to in order to understand the precautions they need to take, thus the signs.

    It is insulting to those who learn and know. My in-laws relocated to FL and the first time we visited they were quick to inform us that if you see water think alligators. It isn't like living in New England.

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  7. You are right OZ - people should understand the areas they are in. While we don't have alligators, we do have mountain lions that have been known to visit the outskirts of town. Mom also keeps an eye out for owls and hawks. We have even been known to have a Moose venture into town
    hugs
    Mr Bailey, Hazel & Mabel

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  8. If they would put that sign at a track at the Olympics, my mom would win a gold medal in sprinting so fast! Mom would rather be frozen in an igloo any day than deal with those creepy creatures. Good for you for living around them. We would rather deal with bears or something.

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  9. good points. I knew alligators and snakes are everywhere in Florida, but I didn't know that panthers, bears and wild boar(?) are plentiful there too. Scary! DakotasDen

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  10. We don't like snakes and gators so we are ALWAYS on the lookout for vicious critters.

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  11. I am actually surprised we haven't seen one yet - there are so many ponds and parks around us but we haven't seen one yet - not that we are complaining :)

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  12. I remember visiting family in TX and the first thing she did was warn me about all the things to worry about....poisonous spiders, snakes, fire ants...we had already seen alligators when visiting the coast before getting to their house. I couldn't wait to get home to New England! LOL
    Jan, Wag 'n Woof Pets

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  13. We hope signs like those will make people more respectful of the animals who share Florida with us. It belongs to all of us, after all!

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  14. I agree. Not sure why so many humans aren't aware and/or respectful of the wildlife around them.

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  15. Or residents and are surprised about the spiders...the riptides....the summer heat dangers...just to name a few.

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  16. OMD, all we have to worry abouts are coyotes, mountain lions and, wells, that's about it for the predators around here. I can't imagine scanning for gators all the time..yikes! Glads you guys are on the lookout! Stay safe!
    Kisses,
    Ruby ♥

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  17. We thankfully do not have alligators roaming our neighborhoods. But we do have within the city limits, coyotes, skunks, raccoons, squirrels (okay they're not dangerous, just pesky). Bears have invaded the yards of people in the nearby neighboring towns and cities though.

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  18. I heard all the hoopla about that poor child from Nebraska that lost is life to a alligator in a slew hole by the hotel around Disney. I then saw the signs they put up and thought the same thing so very sad but like you said you have to know where you are,

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  19. Well, bipeds aren't as smart as we canines!
    Yours sincerely,
    Margaret Thatcher

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Cairn cuddles,
Oz the Terrier