Alligator versus Little Boy..........

[CathyA]

To me, this is so tragic on so many levels. If someone wanted to put a horrific notion in my OCD head, it would be that my 2 year old would be snatched up by an alligator, on a trip that was supposed to be special.

But....as I think about this more, and hear more, it's sad on so many levels.........the first being the loss of a child.

The media stated he was snatched up at the "Happiest Place on Earth". Uh.......I don't think so. In fact, DisneyLand would be one of the last places I would want to take my children. What it is, is quite strange to me. Then all the development that has gone up around there since it started and all the habitat that has been lost to man's insatiable appetite for more, more, more. And then the alligator. It's like so many places that have been taken away from the native wildlife, and then we're angry that they are in "our" spaces.

This didn't make sense to me........On the news, I think it was someone like a DNR person ?? who said that the child drowned, and only had a couple bite marks. But they had caught and killed 5 alligators, after inspecting them to see if they had a hand in the child's death. What does this even mean? (unless they were looking for body parts in the alligator's GI tract......in which case, they were untruthful about the injuries.) After all.....a little boy drowning might be better for Disneyland's image than a boy eaten by an alligator.

I just find it sad on so many levels......the first of which is the loss of the child. Then there's mankind and his appetites and disrespect for any other species. And the fact that Disneyland and everything around it has gotten so huge that it seems impossible to keep everyone safe.

Just so much to be sad about.......especially the child......and the alligators.

[herbgeek]

They killed a number of alligators before they found the boy. So they were looking in the GI tract of those.

[CathyA]

They killed a number of alligators before they found the boy. So they were looking in the GI tract of those.

Oh, well that makes more sense. But still....... all so tragic.

[catherine]

It is really horrifying. I know they had "no swimming" signs, but I wonder what their liability will be by not having specified the potential danger?

I may have read the same article you did, Cathy, and they said that unfortunately it was a perfect storm for that event, based on time of day, season, eating patterns, etc. So in reality, alligator attacks on humans is extremely rare. This is may be nothing more than a tragic, freak accident.


Edited to add: I looked it up and there were 4 deaths by alligator attack of children under 5 since 1980. OTOH, there were 78 children under 5 that died from guns in 2014 alone. Unfortunately, those events don't make news.

[CathyA]

I heard that this man-made lake had several canals that led to larger areas of water. So I guess one should expect, sooner or later, that one would find it's way.
One "official" said "The alligator was confused......thinking the boy was something like a raccoon". DUH! Humans are meat too.
I guess Disney had "beware of alligators" in a number of other water places, just not here.

Yeah..........don't get me going on the gun thing. :(

It would be pretty disconcerting to live in an area with so many alligators.......but you'd just have to always be cautious.
(But it's probably disconcerting for the alligators to have so many humans too..........)

[peggy]

I cannot think of a more horrible thing than losing a child like this. I think it was a freak accident, although I understand alligators are just everywhere down there. I've seen people say if you're near water down there, expect alligators. So so sad.

[frugal-one]

Heard on the news it was after 9 pm. Isn't it dark in FL by then?

[catherine]

Heard on the news it was after 9 pm. Isn't it dark in FL by then?

Yes, apparently it was movie night. The article I read said that if alligators are going to look for food, they are very likely to do it at dusk.

[ToomuchStuff]

I hate thinking of Disneyland, because of the song that scratches its way through my head.
That said, it is Disney and if I saw an alligator sign there, I myself might wonder, so I know others will (especially kids), if it is serious, or something to do with Tick Tock the alligator and Captain Hook.

[razz]

I have gone and would go to Florida and Disney World thinking and expecting alligators to be present, and snakes etc. It is what Florida has been noted for generations for having in its environment so a lagoon would be a logical spot. I find the whole report horribly, horribly tragic but puzzling.
We live in a real live world with all kinds of critters.