Alligators....

[tde]

We have a wonderful place up here in Northeast Florida with a beautiful area to flatwater paddle (Guana River State Park). It also happens to be a very popular place for ALLIGATORS.... Any of you other southeastern Paddlers have experience paddling with alligators??...What are real risks of paddling in their territory???  Anyone aware of a gator attacking a SUPer??  TDE

[sup_surf_giant]

...

[NoSaltSuper]

Grew up in Ft Lauderdale, caught several small gators, swam and skied in lakes/canals with gators, waded through the Everglades fishing for bass. 

Never had a problem with them. they truly were easy to spook and didn't like humans.

I imagine standing on a board above the water, they will leave in a hurry when they see you.

[Dealmaker]

There's absolutely no reason to be concerned about alliga....excuse me...I think the pizza guy's at the door...

[mtmilam]

We have them in Louisiana and They don't bother us....they don't like humans and spook easy....the only time they may Hiss at you, if you stumble on their Nest, but that is usually in marsh when we duck hunt....It is kind of spooky when you see the head go down underwater :D.....There is a small lake that is full of gators and people have been kayaking and canoeing there for years......Just don't Bring a DOG....Gators Love Dogs. 

[SUPtanker]

I've been around them in Florida most of my life and so far they have always gone the other way.

[UDflyer]

We have them down here. I live on a lake that has them and theyre not of concern for any of the residents and their kids here. Ive also been canoeing on a local river where theyre a paddle length away. That was freaky at times though but we only have 2 in our lake here an they hide in the weeded areas not so much in the middle of the lake.

***this coming from someone who was bitten by a 4' back in 2001. But tht was me being young & dumb liquored up on everclear.

[piece of 8]

Gators just give you the incentive... not to fall in.

[808sup]

There's absolutely no reason to be concerned about alliga....excuse me...I think the pizza guy's at the door...

Damn! At least a shark stays in his element. They don't follow you home! 

[madmax]

I live in central FL and paddle with the all the time.  No big deal.

[Chilly]

I some areas people feed them and they show no fear of humans. I would avoid those areas. I would also not put a dog of a small kid on a board were there are gators around. That’s asking for trouble. Other than that, I’ve done paddling and water skiing in area with gators without a problem.

[Muskoka SUP]

 

This winter whenever I start getting depressed about not paddling 'cause of the lakes are frozen for 3 months.....

I'll look for this thread and be glad..

David S.

[OUTSIDEWAVE]

ask the kid who lost his arm to a gator in florida a coule of months ago, your inthe water  you are part of the food chain  big small  whatever.

[finsider]

ask the kid who lost his arm to a gator in florida a coule of months ago, your inthe water  you are part of the food chain  big small  whatever.

That kid was swimming with friends in a river in south florida, near the mouth of Lake Okeechobee, during alligator breeding season.

I have grown up around gators...swimming, boating, paddling, and fishing around them.  Don't mess with their nests on land, and be careful when fishing around them. Once you catch a fish they tend to lose their fears and come out of the water for it.  Had one grab my shoes I left on shore when I landed a big Tilapia.  Luckily he let it go.

My wife only gets really nervous around big ones.  She used to freak when they would be lined up on shore and they all dive into the water as you paddle by.  It took awhile to convince her they were going into the water because they feel safer there...not to eat us.
Also winter is much safer to be in the water with them since they tend to stop eating when the water temps hit the lower 70s.

This screenshot is from googlemaps, they are all well over 8ft, surrounding a 100ft deep sinkhole, great fishing but I have yet to paddle there, only canoe.

[downriver]

just make sure you carry a roll of duct tape