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We hear of it many times during the year. Cute little dogs eaten by alligators in Florida, birds becoming lunch for these creatures and even humans being threatened and attacked. I guess creatures like alligators were not meant to mingle with society. There is something about lizards, snakes, crocks and Alligators. They don't seem to have any allegiance to anything, not even their owners when they are pets. Snakes I can understand because some of them don't see very well and are liable to take a bite out of their owner at any time, but when you get to the alligators and crocks, they just don't seem to care what they do. Its not like your family dog who would rather kiss you, at times, than eat. It's a lucky thing for us, that most of the time, these fearsome creatures would rather lay in the sun than chase us. You don't want a croc or alligator chasing you because they can outrun you. I always say, if you are going into croc or alligator land, bring a friend, preferably one who you can outrun.

Florida is not the only place with a large reptile problem, it even happens in places like England. Right now there is a hunt on for one of these hungry devils that has been feeding in the East End of London. It seems that this creature has eaten geese, dogs and who knows what else. It has been spotted in the River Lee, which is near the Lea Interchange in Leyton. A wildlife worker said that strange creatures have been found in this river in the past. This is not the end of the story however. Some think that it is not a croc or alligator that is responsible for the destruction, but a giant catfish. They stated that in 2002 similar things were happening and they caught the culprit, it was an EIGHT foot long catfish.

I know I tell this story a lot, but it is so incredible that I have to repeat it again. While I was in the reptile room of the Bronx Zoo, in New York, I saw something that I will never forget. There was a walkway constructed high above the area where the crocs were and when you walked over it, you could look down and see them lazing by a man made stream. On the walkway and slightly behind me was a woman with an umbrella. I don't know why, but she began to wave it, and then got it partially open, when a large croc came flying up and almost reached her. The poor woman was scared out of her wits. This is when I realized that these deceptively lazy looking creatures were great jumpers.

Croc
Photo Source: Clipart.com

In Scotland there is a creature that is said to exist in the highlands in many bodies of water. It is called the Water Horse. It is said that it has grabbed many men and animals and pulled them below the surface of the water to their deaths. Many credit this creature as being the same creature that inhabits many bodies of water throughout the British Isles. While there is no credible tale of sightings, there is a story of a blacksmith who hooked one and killed it, hundreds of years ago. It is said that in one day the caucus turned into a pile of jelly. Are there gators or crocs that are really in these bodies of water and are yet to be discovered?

In 2003 an alligator was found, so what you say! Yeah I would too except that it was found walking around the streets of New York City. People were passing by a park and they all began to stare. Was it a mugging going on? No, it was more like feeding time. There was a gator that was over four feet long sunning himself. Police and Park Rangers managed to rope the critter. There was a nearby pond and the gator may have been living in there for quite a while.

In Venice, Louisiana, alligators are also a problem. Some children decided to swim in a pond near a relative's home. The pond was very shallow, being only four feet deep at the deepest point. While they were playing in the water, one of them got pulled down. The poor girl did get away but lost the tip of a finger and was bitten on the thigh. The girl managed to climb out of the water but the gator had to be hit with a 2 by 4 before it would let go.

There was a rumor that had spread for weeks of an alligator in Lobdell Lake in Michigan. People used to laugh at the stories of sightings, but the police fearing for the safety of boaters and swimmers decided to investigate, even though they didn't give the story much credibility. To their surprise they found a 3 1/2 foot long alligator swimming in the lake. They were able to capture it and sent it to Florida to be released. I guess that is where you send all your old gators to folks. You wouldn't think there was much more room there with all the people moving down.

A strange tale come from Australia. A man was being attacked by a crocodile. A grandmother, who was passing by, saw it and jumped on the croc's back. The croc was almost 14 feet long. When asked why she took such a chance, she said that she thought the croc had the man's baby in it's mouth. It didn't have a baby, but her action saved the man's life. Both she and the man landed up in the hospital with bites. The croc had been shot in the head.

I know one thing, I don't want to live near any crocs or Alligators!