Chomps So Good!

They never learn.

Florida.

Okay, let's clear up a common misconception about apex predator the American alligator.

Most alligators see prey regardless of what gets in the water. 

Alligators are common in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida and South Carolina. They are known to exist in Arkansas, Tennessee and North Carolina.

Alligators can grow to be up to 14 feet.

If you are in an area where alligators exists: protect yourself, your pets, your children and your property. Do not make yourself a victim of a chomp.

A 71-year-old man fishing on the shore of a Florida lake was killed Friday by a nearly 12-foot alligator, the second fatal attack reported this year.

Steven Hamilton of Winter Garden was standing on the shore of Lake Apopka at Dr. Bradford Memorial Park, 15 miles (24 kilometers) northwest of Orlando, when he was attacked around 5 p.m., the Winter Garden Police Department said.

The presence of other active alligators in the water complicated any chance of rescuing Hamilton, whose body was recovered about two hours later, Winter Garden Fire Chief Jose Gainza told FOX35.

Police Capt. Michael Mason said authorities were not alerted in advance that an alligator was near the lake’s shore, possibly because it “has tons of alligators in it.” He said police launched a joint investigation with the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, whose trappers captured and killed the alligator.

Mason reminded people to be aware of their surroundings and respect wildlife.

“Keep your distance,” he said. “It looks like it’s docile, it looks like your Florida emblem, but it can be dangerous.”

Got too close to the water and the alligator got him.

After a 31-year-old Oviedo woman, Brittany Clark, was killed by a 13-foot alligator near her home in June, Republican U.S. Rep. Greg Steube introduced a resolution calling for the Comptroller General and U.S. Department of the Interior to study the impacts of the American alligator’s listing as “threatened due to similarity of appearance” on Florida’s ability to remove nuisance alligators from residential and commercial waterways.

He said the species has been fully recovered since 1987 but remains protected to prevent trafficking and hunting of the similar-looking American crocodile.

Using Florida state data, the two 2026 deaths bring the total number of individuals killed by alligators since 1948 to 34. Among them were a 61-year-old woman tipped out of her canoe by an alligator in 2025 and an 85-year-old widow who was dragged out of her backyard by an alligator while walking her dog in 2023.

Since the AP ignores history, it was told that slave owners would dangle Black babies over a creek and allow alligators to snatch them. Once the alligators are tearing apart the baby, the slave owner would kill the alligators and pelt their skin for belts, food and whips.

Can we do a Darwin Award for the most stupidest people on the planet?

You can't fix stupid!

You can't change minds!

You are completely trapped in stupid.

You are wrapped and emboldened in stupid.

Again, why do white people always treat wild animals like they're domesticated? 

I would never touch a wild animal. 

Alas, some people think that animals are timid when you're petting them. Nope.

While rare, alligator attacks do happen and many of the victims are close to the water or have pets within a sight of the reptile. If you get too close to the reptile, you are likely a victim of stupidity. On land, an alligator is fast. In the water, an alligator is deadly. 

Especially when you live in a community where water is close by... I mean are they clueless or just stupid?

Once the animal gets a hold of a prey, it's rare that an animal will escape without losing a body part.

It's the unfortunate cause and effect of animals and people.

I've said it before and I stand by what I say: "Wild animals are......well you know!"

If you want to be a thrill seeker, you might want to get life insurance.

To escape an alligator in the water if possible, punch its eyes or put something in its nose. Don't turn your back on an alligator. If you're on land run backwards in a zig zag position. An alligator does not want to waste its time trying to catch a prey that moves too much. An alligator can travel up to 20 mph on land and is very fast and silent in the water. 

When you are near ponds or bodies of water keep pets, elderly adults and small children away.