Anonymous wrote:Shouldn’t we just cull most of them? Such dangerous species that don’t do much for the planet and are always a threat to humans. I’d like to reclaim some ponds, lakes, rivers, and oceans too and not have to worry about getting eaten.

That and big snakes…like Burmese and reticulated pythons, which are now invading other places where they shouldn’t be. Hunt them all.

https://www.brookfield.k12.oh.us/Downloads/Reinsel%20Go%20Green%20Day%202.pdf

Why Should We Care about Alligators?

Other people considered alligators to be useless and dangerous and
hunted them for sport or out of hatred. Between 1950 and 1960, hunters wiped
out 90% of the alligators in Louisiana, and by the 1960s, the alligator population
in the Florida Everglades also was near extinction.
People who say “So what?” are overlooking the alligator’s important
ecological role or niche in subtropical wetland ecosystems. Alligators dig deep
depressions, or gator holes, that collect fresh water during dry spells, serve as
refuges for aquatic life, and supply fresh water and food for many animals.
In addition, large alligator nesting mounds provide nesting and feeding
sites for herons and egrets. Alligators also eat large numbers of gar (a predatory
fish) and thus help maintain populations of game fish such as bass and bream.
As alligators move from gator holes to nesting mounds, they help keep
areas of open water free of invading vegetation. Without these ecosystem
services, freshwater ponds and shrubs and trees would fill in coastal wetlands in
the alligator’s habitat, and dozens of species would disappear.
Some ecologists classify the North American alligator as a keystone species
because of these important ecological roles in helping maintain the structure and
function of its natural ecosystems.

So there wouldn't be rivers and lakes to reclaim in those habitats. And you couldn't go fishing even if there were.

Anonymous wrote:Florida would love to hunt Burmese pythons to extinction in their wetlands. They can't. Just like humans can't hunt rats to extinction. They thrive in this habitat (like rats thrive near human populations) and you can try to kill as many as you see but you will only see 1% of what's out there.

Same with alligators.

Also, this thought, why don't we kill X species since we humans don't need it, is very foolhardy. The ecological web that each species is a part of is so interconnected that removing one species affects everything else in a way that you could not have foreseen.

You are allowed to hunt as many Burmese pythons and iguanas as you want, just for fun, in Florida. They are invasive.

They are the ultimate survivors. They've been around since dinosaurs and they will outlive us

Anonymous wrote:I grew up in FL and so long as you’re taught basic alligator safety you are fine. Mainly avoid shallow, marshy water and the water’s edges particularly around dusk/dawn when they hunt and especially during mating season. Also assume any body of water, even man made retention ponds and such, can have gators in them. They really aren’t out to get your average human, but particular care must be taken with pets and small children who may be confused with pray.

But in general, you are just not going to come across a gator in your day to day life. I will say though that I’m totally a swimming pool gal over natural bodies of water. I like laying on the beach, but don’t go in very deep. Also I don’t like swimming in fresh bodies of water not just because gators but also the bacteria and ameobas.

Crocodiles on the other hand are very aggressive and will hunt humans (at least the old world ones). I have zero desire to ever go in any body of water with them because they will leap out of the water and snatch you from a boat. They are legit no joke, but like a PP mentioned they’re needed to control other species. But I don’t think I’ll ever need to worry about coming across a Nile croc in my life.

There are American crocodiles in Florida.

If you eliminate them all then who’s going to “see you later”?
And who am I supposed to see “after a while”?

Anonymous wrote:I think a better question is why do we need so many humans in the world? Shouldn’t we just cull most of them? Such dangerous species that don’t do much for the planet and are always a threat to other species. I’d like to reclaim some ponds, lakes, rivers, forests and oceans, too and not have to worry about dealing with idiots.

Start with Florida man. DeSantis first.

Anonymous wrote:I grew up in FL and so long as you’re taught basic alligator safety you are fine. Mainly avoid shallow, marshy water and the water’s edges particularly around dusk/dawn when they hunt and especially during mating season. Also assume any body of water, even man made retention ponds and such, can have gators in them. They really aren’t out to get your average human, but particular care must be taken with pets and small children who may be confused with pray.

But in general, you are just not going to come across a gator in your day to day life. I will say though that I’m totally a swimming pool gal over natural bodies of water. I like laying on the beach, but don’t go in very deep. Also I don’t like swimming in fresh bodies of water not just because gators but also the bacteria and ameobas.

Crocodiles on the other hand are very aggressive and will hunt humans (at least the old world ones). I have zero desire to ever go in any body of water with them because they will leap out of the water and snatch you from a boat. They are legit no joke, but like a PP mentioned they’re needed to control other species. But I don’t think I’ll ever need to worry about coming across a Nile croc in my life.

Leaping lizards!

Actually, it seems like if you just killed up all humans that none of these animals would have any issues

I think there is a pretty significant hunting season for them to keep the population under control. My DS likes to watch Gator Boys and that is what I learned from the show, at least.

*prey

I grew up in FL and so long as you’re taught basic alligator safety you are fine. Mainly avoid shallow, marshy water and the water’s edges particularly around dusk/dawn when they hunt and especially during mating season. Also assume any body of water, even man made retention ponds and such, can have gators in them. They really aren’t out to get your average human, but particular care must be taken with pets and small children who may be confused with pray.

But in general, you are just not going to come across a gator in your day to day life. I will say though that I’m totally a swimming pool gal over natural bodies of water. I like laying on the beach, but don’t go in very deep. Also I don’t like swimming in fresh bodies of water not just because gators but also the bacteria and ameobas.

Crocodiles on the other hand are very aggressive and will hunt humans (at least the old world ones). I have zero desire to ever go in any body of water with them because they will leap out of the water and snatch you from a boat. They are legit no joke, but like a PP mentioned they’re needed to control other species. But I don’t think I’ll ever need to worry about coming across a Nile croc in my life.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let’s first kill all the horses. More people are killed by horses each year than alligators. They’re not even a native species. Let’s make America horse-free again.

Horses are not dangerous to people who aren't intentionally messing directly with horses.

Neither are alligators. Alligators only live in certain environments do not take much of an interest in humans at all. Attacks only happen either when humans enter their habitat and behave recklessly or when some idiot human removes an alligator from it's habitat and keeps it in an unnatural place.

There was exactly one fatal alligator attack in the US in 2023. There average 7 attacks per year though most are not fatal.

Dogs kill an average of 43 people in the US per year and ther are approximately 4.5 million dog bites every year. 800 thousand result in people seeking medical treatment.

Should we kill all the dogs OP.

Anonymous wrote:Let’s first kill all the horses. More people are killed by horses each year than alligators. They’re not even a native species. Let’s make America horse-free again.

Horses are not dangerous to people who aren't intentionally messing directly with horses.

We need them to eat all the children of parents who don't pay attention.

Anonymous wrote:I think a better question is why do we need so many humans in the world? Shouldn’t we just cull most of them? Such dangerous species that don’t do much for the planet and are always a threat to other species. I’d like to reclaim some ponds, lakes, rivers, forests and oceans, too and not have to worry about dealing with idiots.

+1000 why do we need OP in the world -- she's an idiot.