http://www.wesh.com/news/23571146/detail.html?source=htv
Damn dinosaurs
.
much like the cycling without helmet stories…
that’s what you get when you swim outside the buoys
when will these self-indulgent triathletes learn?
“McCard said he is gator aware, and watches for gators before going into the water and while in the water.”
How is that even possible if the gator is already in the water?
One of my biggest fears of open water swimming, even though the lakes up here have nothing bigger than 8 inch pickerel! I cannot even imagine going in water that has gators.
As someone that has always lived in the midwest, gators scare the hell out of me. It doesn’t seem rational to swim in a lake with alligators in it. I’ll admit, it’s mostly just my unfamiliarity with them. I have no problem swimming in the ocean with sharks.
Thom
One of my biggest fears of open water swimming, even though the lakes up here have nothing bigger than 8 inch pickerel! I cannot even imagine going in water that has gators.
I live around them and wouldnt dream of gettig in the water alone although some do it regularly. Being in waist deep water fishing and having a 12+ ft gator surface and start doing his mating call far to close to me was enough to cure me.
.
Reminds me of my first IM at GFT in Florida.
I thought for sure a gator was gonna get me!!
After IMFL a few years ago, we went to the St andrews State park, there is a small lake thing there called “alligator lake” or “crocodile pond” (or something like that). A guy said he would pay me 1000 bucks to swima cross it. …i didnt do it, no way in hell, if one of those things gets you and puts you in a death roll and stuffs your ass under a log, its over…big time. I think the only way to safely swim across something like that is to try to swim deep, you dont want to be on the surface (saw that on survivorman).
One of my biggest fears of open water swimming, even though the lakes up here have nothing bigger than 8 inch pickerel! I cannot even imagine going in water that has gators.
As a guy who worked at a fishing lodge and cleaned Pickerel every day, an 8 inch pickerel dorsal fin stuck into your hand REALLY REALLY hurts. 
M~
Gee, thanks! That’s just what I needed to hear!! 
and as stupid and self indulged as humans are, they are gonna hunt down the animal and kill it after the human went into it’s territory for a swim. brilliant.
I have done tris in that lake, they have several there a year, I wonder if this will effect that.
Reminds me of my first IM at GFT in Florida.
I thought for sure a gator was gonna get me!!
Me too. First time I did GFT, I made sure to start in the middle of the pack. Firgured the gators would get the swimmers along the edges. I even remember the sign at the water’s edge saying ‘Beware of Gators’.
They have crocodile nets and big warning signs along some of the Australian beaches. Those salt water crocs can get very large!
Reminds me of my first IM at GFT in Florida.
I thought for sure a gator was gonna get me!!
Me too. First time I did GFT, I made sure to start in the middle of the pack. Firgured the gators would get the swimmers along the edges. I even remember the sign at the water’s edge saying ‘Beware of Gators’.
Shit, I forgot about that!
But the water was so clear, at least you would have seen the gator coming…uh, wait…forget that.
My boss’s dad lives in Kansas. He wants to go diving for fossils, and I offered to take him next time he comes down. But he is scared to death of gators, and it will be interesting to see if he gets in the water.
Me, I’d be more concerned with sharks than gators. Gators usually, usually, shy away from people. Sharks on the other hand… If you northerners knew what most of us locals knew about the sharks in Florida - you wouldn’t get in the water. I bet I get a nasty-gram from the IM-FL peeps after that one.
Just kidding, you’re safe from sharks. Unless one is hungry, because they’re always around and it only takes one hungry shark to ruin your day. If you can find some florida shark repellant - you’ll be okay. I’ve got some extra that I’ll sell to any of you coming down for a race.
When I was in middle school we were on a snorkeling trip in the Rainbow river in FL and I swam right over the top of a big A$$ gator… to this day i get creeped the heck out when doing open water training. Even in the Midwest where its highly unlikely for them to be present.
Best part of the article:
“FWC officials said this was the first unprovoked alligator attack in Florida this year”
if this is not a provoked attack, I don’t know what is. The guy’s luck ran out is all.
and as stupid and self indulged as humans are, they are gonna hunt down the animal and kill it after the human went into it’s territory for a swim. brilliant.
When they do, hopefully he will become a nice pair of boots.