Providence has brought me a cute 20" gator. If the GBH don't find him for a few months, he should thrive. Hope he doesn't decide to go walkabout. My guess is he will stay around, as the environment is perfect.

I'm happy the gator fell into my pond because I have considerable pests. Sometimes I can count 2-3 dozen turtles hanging out in the feeder area. I have 8 interloping Muscovy ducks that make a toilet of my floating deck, right in the executive fishing area. I have many green herons that eat my small bluegill, gams, and crawfish.

I'm trying not to name the little turtle-seeking missile, but I know I will if he stays around. "Sneaky Pete" is taken, "Troy" is too logical. Maybe I'll just let him name himself.

In the event he does stick around long enough to make an impact on the pests, I will harass him so he will fear humans. When he gets big enough to take pets and kids from the bank, well, it's "Chood'em" time. I think when he or she becomes sexually mature, it will leave and look for a mate. I guess gators are like guns. Always a danger and a big responsibility, sometimes necessary.

Never been around gators. Will they leave fish alone in a pond? Seems like they'd eat anything that comes along? Sounds like fun for a while!! Do gators remain silent unless you pull a trigger

bobad, I would make sure nobody feeds him. Buddy of mine thought throwing lunch meat out of the pond boat to the gator would be fun. The gator got way too comfortable around people, and would follow the boat around waiting for a handout.

IIRC, his stuck around for 3-4 years before he disappeared.

They eat a few fish, but turtles, frogs, and birds are much easier to catch. I think the musk turtles, common snappers, and various birds eat far more fish than a single gator.

This one won't get comfortable around people. If he gets closer than 100 ft., he will feel the sting of a .25 caliber slingshot ball.

I've fished several lakes and ponds with gators, and they never come close. I guess they instinctively know people around here look at them as food.

Usually the gators that attack people are 10' or longer. I plan to BBQ this one at 7-8' if it's still around.

Check this out!

http://tinyurl.com/pum56g2

why do people hate turtles?

i was told turtles mostly can only catch
and eat diseased, sick, or dying fish. that
turtles really are not a huge threat to a
healthy fish population.

i caught my yard guy shooting my turtles.
i said "whats you doing boy?"
he said "i'm getting rid of your turtles"
i said "i like my turtles just fine"
of course too much of anything can be a bad thing
but i enjoy seeing my turtles all lined up on a floating log

personally i'd rather have turtles than a gator

i guess it's a 2EachHisOwn

I love turtles. If I didn't, I would simply shoot them. I got desperate and tried that once, and didn't like it.


I live in rice and crawfish country, and this creates a perfect environment for them to breed without significant predation. There are so many turtles in my pond that we cannot fish without hooking 3-4 every trip. I carefully remove the hook, and transport them 5 miles away. I know they will simply walk back to my pond, but it will take them a few months.

When the farmers drain the rice and crawfish fields, it's a pitiful sight. For hundreds of yards, there are thousands of turtles crushed on the roads. It's heartbreaking to see, but unavoidable. I'm sure you know what happens when deer are allowed to breed unchecked, an ecological calamity.

The good news is, turtles are smart, and when there's a gator in your pond, they walk to another pond. The net effect is that few turtles will be eaten.

I know this is hard for some to understand. They would have to experience it to get a full appreciation. Wall-to-wall turtles will change your outlook on the cute critters.

The above is the reason I put this comment in the "creating a food chain" section. Gators were part of that food chain for millions of years, and man interrupted it. There are consequences for that, ask any pond owner in my area.

yes too much of anything can sure be a problem...gotcha