Disney gator attack: 2-year-old found dead, source says

[Citrus]

37. Responsibility vs. Blame

This is not meant to be disrespectful to the family, but just to explain something. As already posted, gators drown their prey and store it a den-like place underwater for consumption after putrefaction has set in. Gators usually grab prey by the head, which makes it easier to drown the prey/victim. When a victim (human, canine, etc.) can be recovered, it is often found with relatively few wounds from teeth, usually on the head area. They killed the gators because that's SOP now that gators have recovered from endangered status. There are regular gator hunts and gator meat is served in many restaurants. Even miniature golf courses often have a pond with baby gators and charge idiot visitors a fee to feed them from a bamboo pole. (I'm opposed to hunting of all kinds, don't eat animals, and hate any kind of captivity. I'm just stating facts.)

I wouldn't have let my child anywhere near that water, but I'm a Florida native and I'm more experienced and more informed about our lakes, rivers, springs, streams and oceans. (I don't think I'd've let my child even near water where there was a No Swimming sign, regardless of location.) Disney had signs that said "No Swimming". And yet there's a beach there! They made it inviting. I'm not sure it's a stretch to assume that wading is not the same as swimming. Disney also knew about the gators. They regularly remove (probably kill) any gators they find that over 4 feet long, IIRC on the length. It's simply not possible for Disney to not know there are gators in every body of water in this state (including tiny ponds).

Though that "lake" is manmade, it is connected by other natural waterways to bigger natural waterways. It is not possible to keep gators out of an area without sinking fencing a few feet underground and then slanting tall above-ground fencing outward so the gators can't climb the fence. Yes, they can climb fences and even certain walls. Even the Cape (NASA) has tall fencing that curves outward to prevent gators from getting into sensitive areas.

Most people don't know much about gators. Even people who've lived here for a long time are stupid and ignorant about the dangers. I see people walking with their small children and dogs along known gator habitats. A gator can pop up suddenly. They are silent. They blend in with our blackwater rivers and lakes. A gator can outrun any human for at least 20 feet (probably more). They are extremely fast on land for short distances. Can we expect people who visit Disney properties from all over the world to know about gators? These aren't people who are camping in the woods. (Water is never far from any spot in this state!) When one really looks at how gators are treated, how they're portrayed in captivity, and the very little warning/danger information out there, it's surprising that more people and pets aren't taken.

I think Disney is responsible. I also think Disney is to blame. They should not have made any water inviting to humans in any way unless 100% predator-proof. They knew there were gators in the water. And they knew that gators are in every body of water here. (They'll even climb fences to get into backyard pools.) At the very least, the "lakes" should not be inviting to wading or swimming, should only have elevated walkways inaccessible to gators, have large frequently-placed warning signs about gators (and other reptiles), and also monitor these areas to ensure the safety of their visitors.

Lastly, this is mating and nesting season and gators are even more dangerous now.