Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Alligator problem

4 weeks ago I put in 300 BG(4in.) in my new 1.5 acre pond with a feeder. Someone spotted an alligator in the pond the other day. Will the alligator eat all my BGs?

How big is the gator?

I am not sure how big. I have not seen it myself. Someone else saw it. I got my spot light and did not see anything last night. I looked for an hour. I wonder how long they can stay underwater?

I have a pond in south Georgia and I live in central Fl..Folks in that part of the woods see some amazing things in ponds. I also was told that there was a gator in my pond along with by all accounts what would surely add up to hundreds of cotton mouths.So far I have yet to see a Gator and only one cotton mouth. There seems to be an unnatural fear of these creatures. Now I can understand the fear of Gators come November but those live in Gainsville and eat dogs in Jacksonville!I really wouldn not be to concerned unless I put my own eyes on him. Just in: there has been Gators sighted in Nabraska lookin to chomp down on some Long Horns ! Now thats something to worry about!!! GO GATORS

Mine comes and goes. I think he moves up and down the swamp. He is very good at concealing himself. They will stick the very tip of his nose out, catch a breath and go back under.

However, I must say that long-term gators will become a problem (IMO). Mine is losing his fear of humans. A couple of weeks ago I was cutting dead timber out of the water. He came to 10 feet from me and watched the whole thing. I could see what he was thinkin..."man if he didn�t have that chain saw - I could take him".

There are lots of opinions about gators eating all of your fish. I have not been able to prove/disprove this for myself. With all the turtles, birds and snakes, I wonder what impact a small gator has since he is eating the competition. Perhaps I am better off with a small gator vs. a bunch of the other? It�s hard for me to see any impact from the gator so far.

I do feel the bigger he gets, the bigger problem I will have from him eating my big fish and from a safety perspective. Sooner or later he must go.

I had done a lot of bass fishing in the coastal swamp/river waters of southeastern NC and there is a large population of gators in that area. On two occaisions seen gators have a go with large gar (10-20 lb)...and the gator always won. So would your gator eat a large LMB, probably! If you only have one maybe the impact won't be so bad and they are a good conversation peice.

Ponddreamer: That may be a good situation... I wonder if people would believe rumors stating that my Illinois pond is full of gators and cottonmouths? ;-) Jeff

Well I finally saw it for myself. It's about 9-10 ft. As I was driving up near the pond his head went under. I waited a couple of hours but he didn't come back up. I guess I'll give DNR a call.

A 9' - 10' gator is a problem any way you look at it. agreed.