There is stupid. and then there's these four guys

[StarOfGlory]

Holy hell, I couldn't believe what I saw four young men attempt to do until I stopped them.

I was hiking through CREW Rookery Swamp preserve outside of Naples and came upon four college-age men looking out across a small body of water. They were looking at an alligator, about 12-ft in length. Two of the men pulled out selfie sticks and took off their shoes. At this point the conversation went like this:

Me: Guys, what are you doing?
Them: We want to get a selfie with this big alligator.
Me: You're not from around here, are you?
Them: No, we're visiting from California, we don't have alligators there.
Me: If you do what I think you are about to do, there is a high probability that you won't be returning to California in your current physical condition.
Them: He looks chill, would it hurt us?
Me: (Thinking whether or not I should let Darwin run its course) Guys, believe me, that animal lives for two reasons: to mate and eat. If it comes over to you, it won't be to mate.

Yes, they were about to enter the water, start splashing the water to get the gator to come to it, and then get a selfie to show their friends back home. I had to explain to them why their idea was not a good one. Oh Lord, protect us from the idiots among us.

 

[Tabascocat]

I was born and raised in SE Texas, so I am quite familiar with gators. I went skiing almost every day amongst them in the Clear Creek channels. For the most part, they scurry away from you. Every now and then, a curious one will follow but they don’t get close enough to feel threatened. I wouldn’t swim near a 12-footer for sure, they have lived a long time for a reason.

Now, I would be more scared of those giant pythons roaming South Florida

 

[StarOfGlory]

I was born and raised in SE Texas, so I am quite familiar with gators. I went skiing almost every day amongst them in the Clear Creek channels. For the most part, they scurry away from you. Every now and then, a curious one will follow but they don’t get close enough to feel threatened. I wouldn’t swim near a 12-footer for sure, they have lived a long time for a reason.

Now, I would be more scared of those giant pythons roaming South Florida

That 12-footer was alone in his territory. Slapping the water in front of them like that is a direct challenge. Not good.

Those massive pythons won't bother you unless you bother them. They've caught a few over 18-ft long. They are eating everything here. Once they hit a certain size only a big gator or croc has a chance to take them down. Florida panthers and bobcats can take out smaller ones. And there is a video of a Bull Shark ripping one up.

On another note, we have also documented Green Anacondas, Black and Speckled Caiman, and three escaped Nile Crocodiles in the Everglades. Not to mention all the invasive fish, fresh and salt water. I'd like to meet the moron that released Lionfish into the Keys and kick his balls in.

 

[Tabascocat]

That 12-footer was alone in his territory. Slapping the water in front of them like that is a direct challenge. Not good.

Those massive pythons won't bother you unless you bother them. They've caught a few over 18-ft long. They are eating everything here. Once they hit a certain size only a big gator or croc has a chance to take them down. Florida panthers and bobcats can take out smaller ones. And there is a video of a Bull Shark ripping one up.

On another note, we have also documented Green Anacondas, Black and Speckled Caiman, and three escaped Nile Crocodiles in the Everglades. Not to mention all the invasive fish, fresh and salt water. I'd like to meet the moron that released Lionfish into the Keys and kick his balls in.

When I go scuba diving around the Caribbean, I always bring a couple of bags and a spear and kill as many lion fish as I can. I’m afraid it’s too late to eradicate them but they are tasty.

As for the snakes, I don’t care if they won’t bother me, just not getting anywhere close to a big one. Ive seen Anaconda too many times…..

 

[John813]

I don't think it's recent, but some people are extremely ignorant of not only their surrounding but nature itself.

Taking a picture of a wild animal is cool, from afar or safely.
Going up to a wild animal, carnivore or not, is beyond dumb.
Just like those people who go to yellowstone to get trampled by Moose.

The animals are called "wild" for a reason. They aren't a house cat or trained dog. They don't know you or care to get to know you.

Dunno if it's nature trying to thin the herd by making some people less cognizant of "dangerous" animals or thinking they are invincible.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

Why did you stop them?!?!

That is just a few more people wasting oxygen and other resources that could be better suited for the rest of us.

 

[nightrain]

Too bad you didn't have a chicken wing to give them so they could feed that chill gator.

 

[Big_D]

Should’ve just got some popcorn and enjoyed the show. If they are that stupid then I’m surprised they made it this far.

Thanks to you at least one of them dodged a bullet but it sounds like it’s just a matter of time for them.

 

[Runwildboys]

Holy hell, I couldn't believe what I saw four young men attempt to do until I stopped them.

I was hiking through CREW Rookery Swamp preserve outside of Naples and came upon four college-age men looking out across a small body of water. They were looking at an alligator, about 12-ft in length. Two of the men pulled out selfie sticks and took off their shoes. At this point the conversation went like this:

Me: Guys, what are you doing?
Them: We want to get a selfie with this big alligator.
Me: You're not from around here, are you?
Them: No, we're visiting from California, we don't have alligators there.
Me: If you do what I think you are about to do, there is a high probability that you won't be returning to California in your current physical condition.
Them: He looks chill, would it hurt us?
Me: (Thinking whether or not I should let Darwin run its course) Guys, believe me, that animal lives for two reasons: to mate and eat. If it comes over to you, it won't be to mate.

Yes, they were about to enter the water, start splashing the water to get the gator to come to it, and then get a selfie to show their friends back home. I had to explain to them why their idea was not a good one. Oh Lord, protect us from the idiots among us.

You should've just put raw hamburger in their pockets and skipped off happily.

 

[Runwildboys]

I was born and raised in SE Texas, so I am quite familiar with gators. I went skiing almost every day amongst them in the Clear Creek channels. For the most part, they scurry away from you. Every now and then, a curious one will follow but they don’t get close enough to feel threatened. I wouldn’t swim near a 12-footer for sure, they have lived a long time for a reason.

Now, I would be more scared of those giant pythons roaming South Florida

I believe jaguars have been reintroduced as well.

 

[Runwildboys]

I don't think it's recent, but some people are extremely ignorant of not only their surrounding but nature itself.

Taking a picture of a wild animal is cool, from afar or safely.
Going up to a wild animal, carnivore or not, is beyond dumb.
Just like those people who go to yellowstone to get trampled by Moose...Are you sure you don't mean 'buffalo'?

The animals are called "wild" for a reason. They aren't a house cat or trained dog. They don't know you or care to get to know you.

Dunno if it's nature trying to thin the herd by making some people less cognizant of "dangerous" animals or thinking they are invincible.

 

[Tabascocat]

@Runwildboys

There are moose in Yellowstone but it is extremely rare to see one much less get trampled on. I do think he is referring to bison, not buffalo since they don’t exist here

 

[Runwildboys]

@Runwildboys

There are moose in Yellowstone but it is extremely rare to see one much less get trampled on. I do think he is referring to bison, not buffalo since they don’t exist here

I just looked up the difference. It's shocking that the word Buffalo is used in so many movies, songs, one state, a restaurant chain, and a football team. You'd think they at least would have taught us the difference in school!

I'm a fairly intelligent and knowledgeable 60 year old man, and this is the first I've heard of this. I'd be embarrassed, if I didn't realize how widespread the ignorance of this is... Actually, I'm still a little embarrassed that I never knew it.

Thanks for clearing that up, brother!

 

[Tabascocat]

I just looked up the difference. It's shocking that the word Buffalo is used in so many movies, songs, one state, a restaurant chain, and a football team. You'd think they at least would have taught us the difference in school!

I'm a fairly intelligent and knowledgeable 60 year old man, and this is the first I've heard of this. I'd be embarrassed, if I didn't realize how widespread the ignorance of this is... Actually, I'm still a little embarrassed that I never knew it.

Thanks for clearing that up, brother!

The terms buffalo and bison are both acceptable and interchangeable here in the states due to the lore. Heck, I still cry out to my wife when I see one…”look hun, it’s a buffalo “. It is a common misnomer that schools even pushed.

Fun fact: the city of buffalo has nothing to do with bison or buffalo, it was named after Buffalo Creek but I can’t explain why a bison is on their helmet

 

[John813]

Yea. Bison . My bad lol

 

[nobody]

mmm bison burgers.. those are so good

 

[Xelda]

Holy hell, I couldn't believe what I saw four young men attempt to do until I stopped them.

I was hiking through CREW Rookery Swamp preserve outside of Naples and came upon four college-age men looking out across a small body of water. They were looking at an alligator, about 12-ft in length. Two of the men pulled out selfie sticks and took off their shoes. At this point the conversation went like this:

Me: Guys, what are you doing?
Them: We want to get a selfie with this big alligator.
Me: You're not from around here, are you?
Them: No, we're visiting from California, we don't have alligators there.
Me: If you do what I think you are about to do, there is a high probability that you won't be returning to California in your current physical condition.
Them: He looks chill, would it hurt us?
Me: (Thinking whether or not I should let Darwin run its course) Guys, believe me, that animal lives for two reasons: to mate and eat. If it comes over to you, it won't be to mate.

Yes, they were about to enter the water, start splashing the water to get the gator to come to it, and then get a selfie to show their friends back home. I had to explain to them why their idea was not a good one. Oh Lord, protect us from the idiots among us.

Thank you for the story Star. I got a good laugh out of it, but honestly didn't believe they were that stupid. There are plenty of critters not native to my state, but I still respect their ability to out run and eat me. I am certain snakes have Cobra Ramsey cookbooks with my picture for prime ingredient..

 

[Runwildboys]

mmm bison burgers.. those are so good

That's another example. I once had a burger , when I was out West, made of "Beefalo". Supposedly half beef, half buffalo.

Ohhhhh, I hate being lied to about what I'm eating!!!

 

[gtb1943]

I am kind of torn about this sort of thing.

We do need to protect the gene pool

all the efforts over the past fifty years to protect the stupid from themselves has only resulted in an overall dumber society

So from that point of view, I would have sat back and cheered on the gator

BUT from the point of view of protecting animals, if the gator had chowed down this would have been found out about and that gator would have been hunted down and killed. Maybe others as well.

so in the end you did the right thing

 

[SlammedZero]

I am kind of torn about this sort of thing.

We do need to protect the gene pool

all the efforts over the past fifty years to protect the stupid from themselves has only resulted in an overall dumber society

So from that point of view, I would have sat back and cheered on the gator

BUT from the point of view of protecting animals, if the gator had chowed down this would have been found out about and that gator would have been hunted down and killed. Maybe others as well.

so in the end you did the right thing

This is what really pisses me off. I live in Idaho, where there are plenty of stories about bears wandering into towns or campgrounds. Most of the time, they go on their way. No harm, no foul. But then you hear about the idiots who try to run up on them for their Instagram selfie. Naturally, the bear stands its ground, and attacks happen. And what happens next? Idaho Fish & Game usually hunts the bear down and kills it, all because of some moron’s actions. Honestly, I say if you're that stupid, let the bear have its lunch.