General Discussion

Tommy_Carcetti

(44,508 posts)

23. A freakish and horrific occurance, but alligators are alligators.

Wed Jun 15, 2016, 10:03 AM

Jun 2016

Like sharks, they don't necessarily distinguish between a small human and other more typical prey. The alligator probably assumed the child for something like a deer or raccoon or duck and did what they instinctually do.

They are truly magnificent creatures and very rarely deadly or even aggressive towards humans. If you go to Shark Valley in Everglades National Park, you'll see plenty of alligators sunning themselves 5 feet off the walk way and there's never been a documented attack.

Unfortunately, Walt Disney didn't seem to bother or care back in the late 60s/early 70s that he was placing his "magical kingdom" on prime pristine Florida natural habitat that included, among other things, alligators. Disney being Disney, they'll go overboard and see that every possible alligator on the property is killed.

Truly tragic and horrific for the child and family involved, but it's also extremely rare and freakish. Before this, there hasn't been an officially documented fatal alligator attack since 2007.

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Another tragedy in Orlando: Alligator drags 2 year old into the water at Disney World [View all] davidn3600 Jun 2016 OP

Disney will now be forced to close all it's beaches forever FLPanhandle Jun 2016 #1

Beaches aren't open for swimming at Disney. Doremus Jun 2016 #107

They had already killed four....... Amaril Jun 2016 #170

Orlando is having a bad few days, this is crazy. joshcryer Jun 2016 #2

easily preventable by staying away from water that could harbor gators beachbum bob Jun 2016 #3

One would think BlueMTexpat Jun 2016 #5

I know, and why this is such a tragedy beachbum bob Jun 2016 #6

Ha, expecting people to actually read signs? Odin2005 Jun 2016 #15

Either that or they seem to BlueMTexpat Jun 2016 #18

Too MUCH signage is often the problem. randome Jun 2016 #57

The signs say nothing about wading in the water MosheFeingold Jun 2016 #148

I wonder if there will be a backlash against these parents from Nebraska like the ones with the ape adigal Jun 2016 #52

Unrec. nt B2G Jun 2016 #53

Really? Unrec? That's a valid question. nt adigal Jun 2016 #68

The 2 situations are not even remotely equatable. nt B2G Jun 2016 #72

I disagree. Parents ignored a No Swimming sign while on a beach in the evening adigal Jun 2016 #75

He wasn't swimming B2G Jun 2016 #78

The poor child was in the water. As I said in another post, I have a vivid imagination adigal Jun 2016 #81

In the "Magic Kingdom" I doubt anyone would think it wasn't controlled jberryhill Jun 2016 #127

If you saw the presser yesterday... Algernon Moncrieff Jun 2016 #171

the toddler wasn't swimming; he was wading. not the same thing magical thyme Jun 2016 #89

Gators don't live in salt water, so no problem at beaches. cwydro Jun 2016 #119

I've only been to Florida once in my life magical thyme Jun 2016 #166

"wading" is generous - the reports say "ankle deep" on a two year old jberryhill Jun 2016 #125

Most Floridians would know that the chance for gators exists in any body of non chlorinated water Algernon Moncrieff Jun 2016 #138

of course Floridians would know. But when you are host to tourists from outside Florida magical thyme Jun 2016 #167

You gotta see the layout of this place jberryhill Jun 2016 #124

Jeez! All those kids were in the water, at least by the shore. adigal Jun 2016 #151

ITA - +10000 JustAnotherGen Jun 2016 #85

No one could ever swim in Florida again! csziggy Jun 2016 #13

Not only gators, but snakes! davidn3600 Jun 2016 #26

When I was a kid we'd go to my grandmother's lakeside house every Sunday csziggy Jun 2016 #37

Put moth balls all around the outside of the house and around my land area yeoman6987 Jun 2016 #41

Gators have accosted people jogging forgotmylogin Jun 2016 #50

Florida rule 1. If there is water, there will be gators liberal N proud Jun 2016 #4

I do feel for them. BlueMTexpat Jun 2016 #7

The family is from Nebraska - they didn't know about gators csziggy Jun 2016 #17

"The family is from Nebraska - they didn't know about gators" - that's a good point. PoliticAverse Jun 2016 #30

The news now is that Disney is going to close every beach in the park csziggy Jun 2016 #39

And you probably don't know how they behave Mariana Jun 2016 #152

Just because a person is not from Florida does not mean avebury Jun 2016 #106

The parents likely believed that the Disney Corp would make it safe csziggy Jun 2016 #116

If you invite people from all over the world, then it is your job to tell them jberryhill Jun 2016 #134

Assume at your own risk. avebury Jun 2016 #155

"There is almost no tragedy comparable to losing one's child." 3catwoman3 Jun 2016 #66

I would agree one hundred percent ... BlueMTexpat Jun 2016 #129

There weren't such signs at this resort, with its man-made lagoons. pnwmom Jun 2016 #97

There are a multitude of signs warning guests not to go swimming in the Seven Seas Lagoon liberal N proud Jun 2016 #120

No one was swimming jberryhill Jun 2016 #133

OMG liberal N proud Jun 2016 #143

No reason to bring religion into this jberryhill Jun 2016 #146

That is enough to attract gators. liberal N proud Jun 2016 #157

Which is why a "No Swimming" sign is inadequate jberryhill Jun 2016 #165

The family was sitting on a beach/sandy area that is directly inside the resort... Princess Turandot Jun 2016 #8

:( Catherine Vincent Jun 2016 #90

Oh, God. Warren DeMontague Jun 2016 #9

This was a vactioning familiy from Nebraska. They were with the kid, as he waded in the few jtuck004 Jun 2016 #10

Perfectly stated. Thank you. nt B2G Jun 2016 #22

At last count they had pulled and killed half a dozen gators, in their blood lust jtuck004 Jun 2016 #54

I don't think it's out of vengeance B2G Jun 2016 #55

In their stomachs? What a great excuse for ignorance. They should drain all the jtuck004 Jun 2016 #59

Yes, in the gator's stomach NickB79 Jun 2016 #153

Gators stash their prey underwater until they can swallow it. djean111 Jun 2016 #161

He's gone. I can't imagine asking people to kill every alligator in the area to find remains adigal Jun 2016 #70

You think the parents are directing the search and methods? nt B2G Jun 2016 #73

No, but as a parent who understands risks, I would ask them to suspend the search adigal Jun 2016 #76

Perhaps it's at Disney's request B2G Jun 2016 #82

Fortunately GulfCoast66 Jun 2016 #79

So maybe they should kill every alligator in a 10 mile vicinity to find the remains adigal Jun 2016 #86

They should keep looking GulfCoast66 Jun 2016 #91

"Receiving the remains" doesn't mean they're going to hand him to the parents... forgotmylogin Jun 2016 #158

They are trying to recover the body to give the family closure. pnwmom Jun 2016 #98

They are going to keep looking for the gator since it attacked a human. Ace Rothstein Jun 2016 #123

The thing that would stop it from happening again is not to build theme parks in alligator swamps. jtuck004 Jun 2016 #128

There are dangers everywhere you go. Ace Rothstein Jun 2016 #131

You mean immunie from people. They are the ones causing the problem. The 'gator jtuck004 Jun 2016 #135

I guess humans should all just die then. Ace Rothstein Jun 2016 #136

park has been there for 45 years and had countless millions of visitors Takket Jun 2016 #162

Well, at least I don't have to repeat myself. n/t jtuck004 Jun 2016 #164

Yes someone from Nebraska would likely have no idea such a thing was even possible. n/t PoliticAverse Jun 2016 #31

I live in NY state and I know about gators adigal Jun 2016 #67

So what? I'm from Washington and I would have known pnwmom Jun 2016 #99

Because it doesn't fit in with their "magical" and "carefree" image - yes, a sign with ALLIGAOTORS adigal Jun 2016 #132

I totally agree Catherine Vincent Jun 2016 #93

I thought of this happening when there in December woodsprite Jun 2016 #11

One office building I worked in had a large retention pond on the property...... Amaril Jun 2016 #172

After Disney, we rented a house in my inlaws development for a week woodsprite Jun 2016 #173

It wouldn't surprise me ... lpbk2713 Jun 2016 #12

As of this morning, they were reporting that they've destroyed 4 alligators. WillowTree Jun 2016 #20

Gators usually stash their prey underwater for a while. djean111 Jun 2016 #27

If you go to Florida's state parks, you'll clearly see actual Alligator warning signs near water. Tommy_Carcetti Jun 2016 #29

I live here, and yes, I am always wary of gators, but I think those signs should have mentioned djean111 Jun 2016 #47

Disney should have had those signs prominently placed around all its lagoons. n/t pnwmom Jun 2016 #100

I was just relating this point to coworkers - Australia puts NO SWIMMING!! CROCODILES adigal Jun 2016 #74

I don't think they fucked up on the signs. forgotmylogin Jun 2016 #160

And as a Florida resident........ Amaril Jun 2016 #174

You need have no doubt. 3catwoman3 Jun 2016 #69

Another reason to stay the fuck away from Florida. Odin2005 Jun 2016 #14

No Swimming means No Swimming malaise Jun 2016 #16

A gator will quite enthusiastically come out of the water in order to catch its prey. djean111 Jun 2016 #28

I'm not from Florida but I come there often and I think gators all the time malaise Jun 2016 #33

Yes, but 'No swimming' isn't a sufficient warning ohnoyoudidnt Jun 2016 #40

I'm not wading in any fresh water in Florida malaise Jun 2016 #44

Even if you don't see gators or mocassins ... lpbk2713 Jun 2016 #46

I always think about gators when in Florida, because I have an active imagination adigal Jun 2016 #80

Yep malaise Jun 2016 #87

I wouldn't consider standing in a few inches of water to be "swimming" would you? PoliticAverse Jun 2016 #42

Hopefully people would understand that there are gators in all fresh water in FL gollygee Jun 2016 #19

Sensible. Raissa Jun 2016 #32

+1,000 malaise Jun 2016 #34

They need to post signs like this csziggy Jun 2016 #45

I agree. Many visitors from outside of the area wouldn't realize "no swimming" pnwmom Jun 2016 #101

I had no idea Amos Moses had so many kin that signed up for DU jberryhill Jun 2016 #147

I don't see anyone at fault, either MissDeeds Jun 2016 #149

So tragic! Terrible week for Orlando ecstatic Jun 2016 #21

A freakish and horrific occurance, but alligators are alligators. Tommy_Carcetti Jun 2016 #23

And in a few months, more gators will be back davidn3600 Jun 2016 #35

with the amount of Yankee transplants in Florida, I'm surprised gator attacks are rare pstokely Jun 2016 #176

There have apparently been a few more deaths than that since 2007... PoliticAverse Jun 2016 #43

Private citizens nor companies GulfCoast66 Jun 2016 #71

Yes, but Disney carries a lot of sway in this state. nt Tommy_Carcetti Jun 2016 #77

No doubt GulfCoast66 Jun 2016 #83

that poor family irisblue Jun 2016 #24

This message was self-deleted by its author irisblue Jun 2016 #25

Oh great, here comes another swarm of winged blame monkeys. CBGLuthier Jun 2016 #36

Note to self: do not go to Florida this year. Initech Jun 2016 #38

The problem is that Disney's warning signs are not explicit enough. Nye Bevan Jun 2016 #48

That's a small sign, white on a light background. Bad placement and design. randome Jun 2016 #58

This is simply a sad, horrible accident. No more. nolabear Jun 2016 #49

So true, sometimes stuff just happens. Nt Logical Jun 2016 #61

I never took my kids to Disney because I thought it was all such make believe adigal Jun 2016 #51

Maybe they need to add a picture of an alligator to the "No swimming" signs they had posted. woodsprite Jun 2016 #84

And this was an organized function on that beach -- "Beach night." pnwmom Jun 2016 #117

MSM has commenced ALLIGATOR WEEK! JCMach1 Jun 2016 #56

Disney built their resort ... Whiskeytide Jun 2016 #60

Totally, totally agree with you. mainer Jun 2016 #62

Yeah. These folks who are saying that ... Whiskeytide Jun 2016 #65

Disney resorts are massive sprawling properties. Raissa Jun 2016 #126

There is a ton of undeveloped land on and surround the Disney World property. Ace Rothstein Jun 2016 #130

You can't relocate adult gators Sgent Jun 2016 #156

Steps away from a playground, mind you jberryhill Jun 2016 #64

Of course they can and should have signs warning about alligators. pnwmom Jun 2016 #111

Naww... warning signs about alligators would spoil the whole mood jberryhill Jun 2016 #121

I'm reading this as snark, right?? I don't think others did. NT adigal Jun 2016 #137

Yes jberryhill Jun 2016 #141

I agree 100% - while I think I would have known doesn't mean others would have adigal Jun 2016 #88

Absolutely... n/t Whiskeytide Jun 2016 #103

That is a sickening thought but you're probably right. pnwmom Jun 2016 #115

It's hard for us who have been there many times before JustAnotherGen Jun 2016 #94

But holding his hand doesn't mean the child would have been safe pnwmom Jun 2016 #105

I don't disagree with the signs JustAnotherGen Jun 2016 #108

From the reports I read, the beach there wasn't crowded. There were only a few people pnwmom Jun 2016 #118

I haven't heard that something like this has happened at the resort before... Whiskeytide Jun 2016 #109

It was their movie night on the beach JustAnotherGen Jun 2016 #114

Best post here. +1000000000. Thank you! pnwmom Jun 2016 #104

Thanks PNW - always enjoy your posts too! n/t Whiskeytide Jun 2016 #112

I love the DU monday morning QBs experts. So annoying. Nt Logical Jun 2016 #63

This will cost Disney flamingdem Jun 2016 #92

Five gators have been caught and euthanized with no sign any of them responsible. mnhtnbb Jun 2016 #95

This was clearly Disney's fault. These were man-made lagoons on their property pnwmom Jun 2016 #102

We started going to Florida from NJ when I was a kid in the 50's. LONG before Disney. mnhtnbb Jun 2016 #110

Well, goody for you. But liability laws are meant to protect everyone, pnwmom Jun 2016 #113

And informing yourself of dangers is meant to avoid tragedy mnhtnbb Jun 2016 #122

Oh, yeah, these folks were just out for a payday jberryhill Jun 2016 #139

For the record, movie night was on the grass, not on the beach. Algernon Moncrieff Jun 2016 #142

That's probably the risk-benefit calculation they had their accountants make. pnwmom Jun 2016 #144

In Florida, there have been 23 gator related deaths since 1973 Algernon Moncrieff Jun 2016 #169

Most visitors in Florida know that getting struck by lightning pnwmom Jun 2016 #175

You can't prepare for lighning, given that it's been know to strike 10 miles + from a storm Algernon Moncrieff Jun 2016 #177

But lightning is a natural phenomenon that occurs everywhere in the country. pnwmom Jun 2016 #179

We will never agree Algernon Moncrieff Jun 2016 #180

I appreciate that you're not blaming the parents. pnwmom Jun 2016 #181

...and there are these signs that do little to no good Algernon Moncrieff Jun 2016 #178

Disney has very professional risk managers, who are well aware of the liability issues involved. Algernon Moncrieff Jun 2016 #140

That's right. They've decided the occasional human loss of life is worth it. pnwmom Jun 2016 #145

FWIW - I was at an RV camp near Orlando hedgehog Jun 2016 #96

I run almost every day, and no way do I get near the edge of the canal obamanut2012 Jun 2016 #154

A reason to go to Disneyland in California instead. mainer Jun 2016 #150

Update: Searchers recover body of boy snatched by gator at Disney PoliticAverse Jun 2016 #159

Alligators a frequent sight at Disney World PoliticAverse Jun 2016 #163

. nini Jun 2016 #168