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Lake + alligators = Reassurance
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 2013-06-20 7:54 PM |
Veteran  151  |  Subject: Lake + alligators = ReassuranceHey everyone, so I just moved here to a very small city in TX and they have a beautiful lake (houston county lake). I was stoked that I can get some OWS in and the nearest pool is 45mins away so kinda forces me. This is such a random concern. I know here in TX that alligators can be present in some of the rivers and bodys of water. I've talked with two people that have lived on the the lake for 30+ years and they said that there has not been any alligators that they've ever seen or heard about which boosts my confindence but then a coworker said they did find a small one a few years ago right where I swim. My first and only swim was disastrous because I was honestly just thinking about becoming gator food!! I was reading articles that the chances of an attack are slim to none. Should I just suck it the heck up and swim my distances knowing there probably isn't anything to worry about? I've thought about swimming with a dive knife also. * as i'm typing i'm thinking seriously bro, are you starting a thread about friggin alligators? |
| 2013-06-20 8:04 PM in reply to: proudrcf |
Member 321 Spokane | Subject: RE: Lake + alligators = Reassurance Eff that, I wouldnt swim in waters with possible Gators lol. I also don't want to swim in the ocean! |
| 2013-06-20 9:19 PM in reply to: 0 |
Expert 1644  Oklahoma | Subject: RE: Lake + alligators = Reassurance I'm sure you have a much better chance of getting bit by a cottenmouth then even seeing an alligator if that makes you feel better. Edited by EKH 2013-06-20 9:33 PM |
| 2013-06-20 9:29 PM in reply to: proudrcf |
New user 1351 Austin, Texas | Subject: RE: Lake + alligators = Reassurance I've lived in Louisiana off and on for 3 years and did some swimming in the lakes for a while. I've heard somewhere that Louisiana has more alligators than every other state combined, so I felt like I was really treading on thin ice... About half the people I talked to said "nah, you're fine!" and the other half said "what are you? crazy?" I was also the only person that I EVER saw go swimming, at least in the lake that I lived near. One day I was talking to a guy about it and he asked what part of the lake I had been swimming in. When I described it he said "well, just so you know, I've personally killed 4 alligators in that same spot, but you're not very likely to get killed by a gator. Water moccasins are what you gotta worry about, they'll kill you, but other than that, you're fine!" I never swam in the lake in Louisiana again. |
| 2013-06-21 5:58 AM in reply to: EKH |
Extreme Veteran 643 , Guam | Subject: RE: Lake + alligators = Reassurance Originally posted by EKH I'm sure you have a much better chance of getting bit by a cottenmouth then even seeing an alligator if that makes you feel better. This ^^^^ is very good intel IMO. |
| 2013-06-21 6:03 AM in reply to: proudrcf |
| New user 560 Key West | Subject: RE: Lake + alligators = Reassurance Well maybe the gators in Texas are a lot more timid than the ones in Florida, because gators are pretty aggressive down here. But I know one thing. I will NEVER swim in water that I know I will be sharing with gators or crocs. I have been in Florida for a couple of decades, luckily now in Key West where we have no gators, but I have, and will continue to avoid many fresh water lakes in the State. Of course, now we have crocs in the norther Keys. Yikes. |
| 2013-06-21 7:48 AM in reply to: topolina |
| Member 354 | Subject: RE: Lake + alligators = Reassurance Central Florida native here. Grew up w/ tons of lakes around and spent countless hours swimming, skiing, sailing etc. on them. I've seen hundreds of gators and never had a problem, but I still wouldn't OWS alone in the lakes I grew up on. Swimming w/ buddies, skiing, etc....no problem, but I can tell you that even the 3 minutes or so that you're floating alone in a known gator hotspot waiting for the ski boat to get back to you can be a LONG 3 minutes. So an OWS solo would be out of the question for me. Seeing a 12+ foot gator gets your attention real fast. |
| 2013-06-21 8:12 AM in reply to: proudrcf |
Elite 3371 | Subject: RE: Lake + alligators = Reassurance I live in SC and do triathlons in gator waters frequently. Doesn't bother me - nor have I ever actually seen one on race day. That said, an OWS by myself would freak me out. |
| 2013-06-21 8:19 AM in reply to: steveseer |
| Member 354 | Subject: RE: Lake + alligators = Reassurance Swimming w/ several other people, especially in a race, gators/snakes/giant alligator gars/etc. are going to be long gone. No worries there. Solo swims, at least for me, are a no go in those areas. Oddly enough, I don't really worry about solo ocean swims and sharks. I don't know if I should, but I don't. |
| 2013-06-21 9:21 AM in reply to: proudrcf |
Veteran 1384 Panama City, FL | Subject: RE: Lake + alligators = Reassurance Living in FLA, I feel much safer in the Gulf of Mex than any fresh water lake- Old saying in FLA: If there's a mud puddle or small body of water- it likely has snakes and gators. There are calculated risks that we all take when doing OWS and odds are you are fine. |
| 2013-06-21 9:34 AM in reply to: taylorz13 |
| Deep in the Heart of Texas | Subject: RE: Lake + alligators = Reassurance If people that know the lake say there are no gators, then I wouldn't worry about it. |
| 2013-06-21 9:38 AM in reply to: taylorz13 |
Champion 7036 Sarasota, FL | Subject: RE: Lake + alligators = Reassurance Originally posted by taylorz13 Living in FLA, I feel much safer in the Gulf of Mex than any fresh water lake- Old saying in FLA: If there's a mud puddle or small body of water- it likely has snakes and gators. There are calculated risks that we all take when doing OWS and odds are you are fine. x2. And don't forget the brain-eating amoebas that love warm fresh water lakes... I'm also a long-time resident of FL and much prefer OWS in the Gulf of Mexico over any local fresh water lakes. Scariest threat in the Gulf is from bull sharks, but unless you're swimming alone at dawn or dusk, that's really not an issue (I also ditched my bright yellow tri top when I learned yellow is shark's favorite color). An you have to remember to do the "sting ray shuffle" during ray season. Biggest danger there is inadvertently stepping on one in shallow water. Mark |
| 2013-06-21 9:45 AM in reply to: RedCorvette |
Champion 7036 Sarasota, FL | Subject: RE: Lake + alligators = Reassurance Actually, I've encountered more gators riding and running versus swimming. Here's a sign posted along one of my regular running routes:
Mark
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| 2013-06-21 9:50 AM in reply to: trijamie |
Expert 2373 Floriduh | Subject: RE: Lake + alligators = Reassurance Originally posted by trijamie I've heard somewhere that Louisiana has more alligators than every other state combined, Doubtful that Louisiana would have more than Florida. Nevertheless, I would avoid dawn and dusk OWS in fresh water. However, I have done several races in Alligator-positive water and I am sure the volume of swimmers scares them away. Can't blame them with some of the scrums I've been in. |
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| 12 days until first marathon and I am nervous, need advice/reassurance | ||
|  Started by Sharyn5Views: 4403 Posts: 42 | ||
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| Lake Swim & Alligators Pages: 1 2 |
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