Wondering if y’all have seen this before.

I bought a camp recently down in the swamps south of Pierre Part, home of tv’s “Swamp People”. Lots of gators in the area my camp is on an access bayou to the main lakes and bayous areas. The whole greater area is beautiful Spanish moss laden cypress and live oaks

The camp that I bought hasn’t been used in over a year and I’ve had a lot of outside cleaning and work to do, going twice weekly.

For the past 4 visits I’ve had a young gator that’s about 3-4’ long come up and just follow me around while I’m working. He’s not a problem, he’s not aggressive, just seems curious and is almost like a dog following me around. It’s the same gator as he has a chunk missing off the top tip of his tail.

When I go under my cook shed and turn on the floor fan to sip a cool one and rest a bit he comes and lays about 2-3’ away from me and then follows when I get up and go back to work.

I know they’re curious but have never seen this type behavior before.

If he comes back Friday I’m gonna name him Gator McCluskey.

Any resemblance between you and his mother?

Name him Lassie

Someone has been feeding him. While he is small everything will be OK for a while, then you will have to kill him. His brain is very small and concentrates on only one thing besides breeding.

Name him Lassie

.45 'em!!

I sense the start of a beautiful relationship.

See it all the time here in SW GA. They are curious at first when small and cute. Every year they get bolder and bolder. A pond I fish had one about two feet long. He was the only gator in the pond. He grew roughly a foot a year for the next twelve years. Now he expects (demands?)to be thrown a bass or two every trip out there. Last time there, he came up to the side of my Jon boat and butted it with his snout waiting on a handout.

The problem is other fishermen, including me, caused his bad habit. It was cute when he was 3-4 feet long. Not cute now that he’s basically as big as my Jon boat

Will it let you give it a hug?

Not a problem till he’s 6-8ft.Then pick a recipe,and sharpen your knife...

Considering the size of their brains I would definitely NOT make a pet of him.

Sounds like a very cool camp!!

A whole new twist on "The Yearling" story! 🤣🤣🤣🤣

Buy a frisbee

Dang that's weird. A nearly forgotten movie and another member and I were just discussing it last night.

Ya gotta name him

Phideaux

Live just south of duson. Don’t let your feelins get in the way of facts. Its a gator. Its gonna be breeding size soon. It will give zeroshits. You need to do the same before it does. I hate to think what would happen to a youngin if they were to run up on it cause its used to “chillin” and it lash out. Use your head and not hindparts and feelins to think with.


Alan

Lol, That was funny!

Eat him now while he's young and tender.

It's a bit like teaching a Great Dane puppy to climb on your lap when it's little, then dealing with the bigger lap dog forever more...

45 LC to the brain pan.

Honey-Dijon mustard on the gator nuggets to follow.

I won't eat a wild hog because of their nastiness. There is nothing no matter how putrid a gator won't eat.

Yes sir,

It sounds like an awesome camp a lot of us would enjoy if we had that same honor.
I've raised a couple of those critters . I've never liked how the gator people series treated the fine animals even though I hunt and eat game. It just seems a little too sensational with no educational benefits to the rest of us who may have opportunity to enjoy those Cyprus rivers.

It varies from gator to gator, much like people, but they can be very intelligent. I've exposed thousands of people to my gators. I followed safety rules so there's never been anyone exposed to any risks. Perhaps some little boy raised him as a baby like they do box turtles around here. Maybe he is just curious and for whatever reason, friendly.
Whatever the reason he's taken a liking to you, this is my opinion.

IF he bothers you, or you are concerned about possible future behavior, you have two good options.

1. Relocate it to a distant waterway far from roads and homes that has plenty of food and little competition from big gators. It might take someone with experience and a gentle hand, like a zoo keeper of a reptile exhibit. Most people that catch gators don't know how to properly do so without killing them or breaking the spine leading to death. Second thought is that this is not a good option.

3. Carry a long straw broom with you. When he approaches, gently shoe it away. Just carefully push it away in the direction you want it to go...back into the closest line to water. If you do this use much caution and I'd wear heavy leather boots just in case..
They are smarter than they look, usually....
It will eventually get the idea and should quit bothering you. Just be consistent and gentle. It'll learn.

If you enjoy it's company and want it around, then treat it like you would any other wild animal. Don't trust it 100%, and keep a broom handle nearby. Don't let grandchildren too close with supervision. Never allow children around it without supervision. Never feed it, or let anyone else feed it. That includes neighbors. The only way you can prevent that is by talking to them about the fact that he adopted you and one thing you'd like is a friendly around instead of a mean one. Teach them how he will get acclimated to being fed if they ever do that or leave meat scraps out....then your friend might have to be destroyed......Remind them occasionally since they might be tempted. Show them how you direct him with the side bristles of a long straw broom. I'd buy them a broom like that if he gets friendly with them too. Teach them by demonstration when he's over there so they can try for themselves supervised the first time. This might prevent a future unfortunate experience with them. You just use it with the bristles to the ground like you were sweeping her away. Keep it between you and it as a barrier and sweep in the direction it should go but extremely sloooow. Be patient. They are more like sleepy basset hounds than a Chihuahua.

Animals and humans CAN live in harmony even if they aren't dogs. My late Dad was extremely blessed by one of my gators. He liked him as much as any dog. That made for some good memories. They both liked each other and spoke to each other. Yes, they communicate. You'll learn the different tones of grunts, hisses, etc. They are very interesting modern day "dinosaurs."

Gator boots in your future?

Maybe he's waiting until he gets big enough to eat you.

I'm not Steve Irwin and I don't trust reptiles.

Laying there thinking:
"pa says they taste like chicken but I don't see how"

^^ full of chit^^

Probably just a low-slung Doberman with a notch in its tail.

You will have to be more specific.

pics or it didn’t happen

Don’t be a wayneshaw or an elkslayer

I used to see a guy every time we went to Lafitte that had about a 4 foot gator that he walked around with a collar and a leash .

Umm , come to think of it I haven't seen him in a while .

He’s got plenty to eat. The several camps on the bayou all have fish cleaning sheds right on the bayou like mine so no need to feed him and I wouldn’t anyhow, that could only end one way.

Hastings you’re right. Them sumbitches will eat just about anything including each other.

Got another pet hanging real close and is curious also. A large coon that’s almost grey in color. I met him while cleaning off cypress needles and limbs off the top of my main shed overhang that leads to my boat slip shed. He had quite a home built under that overhang from one shed to another. He’s another one that hangs around quite a bit and hasn’t been aggressive.

They are not endangered. Get a tag. Cook him up before he eats you while your napping.

In due time that’s about how this will end or like that in “Ole Yeller”.

I wouldn't trust a gator , he might turn on you .

Deeply profound.
Thank you for that.

Yep. Trust ain’t part of the deal.

I’ll probably need to whack him over the head with a big stick. The time is coming.

Gators have no predators except for us and bigger gators. No need for them to fear anything and mostly, they don’t.

Put me in the hot oil + sharp knife crowd.

Lots of people have been hurt or killed by wild 'pets', everything from deer to snakes to junk yard women. If an animal with less obvious weapons, like a deer, can do you in, one with very obvious weapons, like gators and women, are extra dangerous. They're natural predators.

Heh !

Do you guys remember the Holy Roller pastor north of Baton Rouge in Central, Louisiana, Reverend Tony Spell? He was the one in the news who defied all things covid related and ran afoul of the law and still has stuff pending against him like trying to back his suv over a protester at the church, etc.

Last week he shot and killed a 6’ gator that was in the pond behind his church and put a picture of himself holding it up by the tail on social media. Well,,,,the Louisiana wildlife and fisheries folks took deep umbrage and exception to all of that and popped Reverend Tony’s ass with several heavy violations.

The good reverend’s defense is now that the pond was used for Baptismal ceremonies and he was concerned about the safety of the dunkers and the dunkees.

That defense ain’t flying too well at the moment.

So, back to Gator McClusky,,,I’ll probably just whack his ass and let him know that he ain’t welcome in the camp yard.

happy crapper.

😂
AughOh! Now we're bringing in crazy ex girlfriends into the picture?

No comparison IMHO.
Gators are like sleepy basset hounds compared to some pit bull crazy gal who'll chop up her man and mix you with the fish guts.

Steve Irwin worked with Salties and Nile crocs.
Gators can grab you if you let them, but like girlfriends and pet dogs, you got to learn what your critters are like. 😉

When he gets big enough turn him into a pair of boots

Don't be eatin' my lizard.

He is eyeing you for food. Lizards aren’t like dogs or cats. They don’t attach themselves to people for anything but food.

Make sure you have your 44mag handy when your “friend” is close and keep small children away. I would drive him away with rocks or a long pole so problems don’t happen.

I lost that bet. I had the OP and dirty camper!

You do seem like a loser.

Seeming like a loser is one thing. You leave no doubt you are a loser. That’s special. You are special.

Thanks for your input. It means so much.
Please know that.

LOL

CHOOTIM !

Ole CHOOTIM, Landry has a pretty good little restaurant there in Pierre Part. Excellent turtle sauce piquant.

Good daily lunch specials too.

I’m told it’s his family’s restaurant.

Nearby here some woman visiting in a "senior community" defied everyone's warnings and got up close to an 8 or 9 foot gator on the bank of the retention pond to take a picture. Someone warned her that they'd recently seen it grab a deer and pull it in. Her response: "Well....I don't look like a deer." Sure enough, the gator grabbed her and started dragging her in. Couple guys ran out and tossed her a rope, but it was no use. Her last words before the gator rolled her under: "I guess I won't be doing that again."

Someone here a while back posted a short video clip of a really big one going up to then over a 6’ chain link fence and then continuing on about his way.

Dog?

Reminds me of an old joke.... Guy goes into this biker bar where the patrons love their pit bulls and rottweilers..... He has a short legged yellow dog on a leash and the bikers immediately start in on him and that "stupid yellow dog" of his....

Guy says wait a minute, "He's tough, bring out your best dog and $100 and we'll see......"

So the bikers bring out this big mean ole Rottie and say "sic'em"...... well, that little yellow dog gave the rottie one big bite and the fight was over..... the bikers are amazed.. they want a dog like that...."What kind is it?"

So the guy collects his $100 and says... "Well, before we cut his tail off and painted him yellow, he was an alligator!"

Happy Camper has got to be related to Timmothy Treadwell.


Clyde

Holy fuuuck

Family comes from old pioneering stock grew up around their farms.
Gators were never in the mi, but other predators were.

If it would kill chickens,
eat eggs,
threaten cows or hogs of any size,
or pose any risk to humans. It died.

They mostly didn't like any snakes. They died too.

And gator that got too friendly?
"He was just too friendly!"

"But now he's tasty."


Are fish cleaning stations on the bayou, near the camp,
A good idea?

Thinking maybe put the crap in a bucket, and move it away.

Hillbilly here.
Things in the water that can eat me are foreign,
And creepy.

The fish cleaning stations are 50 yds away, some a lot closer. The birds really like like the offal as do the turtles.

The gators are just a regular fact of life in the whole area. Problem gators are handeled quickly with just a phone call. It’s not uncommon to see dead ones along the highways that have been hit by vehicles.

It’s part of the ambiance.

You got grandkids that may visit this camp? Yes/No. Kill it anyway.


You got dogs that may visit this camp? Yes/No. Kill it anyway.

I had a Rattlesnake do that . He started following somebody else one day and we never saw him again.

i'd shoot that SOB before it ate a dog or kid.

I think a few whacks will do to make him unwelcome.

The folks across from me on the Lake had a real dandy laying up on their boat lift sunning himself.

Loose dogs aren’t allowed and folks that have them walk them on a leash.

Toot, I’d name him “Boots”

🦫

There might be a reason gators were darn near extinct.
Our forefathers took control. Of something was a threat, they
eliminated it. Not sure that's good, or bad.

Kinda like our bears.

When I was young they didn't really exist right here.

By the 80s, some were being seen. That was cool.
In the 90s, guys who really wanted to could kill one over a year or two.
That was cool.

Now? They destroy corn fields, raid cabins, tear up property.
And it's not rare.

Might be just a few too many!

Were it my property, I'd be sporting a new set of alligator leather tefillin in about 6-9 months.

“My name is Gator McCluskey, you know why I’m here now? I said you know why I’m here now?”

Burt Reynolds in “Gator “.

I doubt this little guy would make a wallet let alone boots !

N

Dillon, I can think of very, very few critters that are easier to catch and kill than are alligators in the wild.

They have proliferated to the point where prices are well depressed from days not too long ago past.


Bears!!
Louisiana has their share of those too with the possibility of a limited , draw, heavily supervised areas hunt for them. Every year several or so are shot by folks thinking that they’re big feral hogs.

Our family place has several that move through regularly so much so that it’s hard to raise a garden of sweet corn. They play hell with deer corn feeders too and they really like pecan orchards.

Still no pics

Tick
Tock

Yall is racist. Alligators have been oppressed for hundreds of years. All he needs is a chance.

Could be a while.

A whack on the head may save his life.

Awe hell Toot, If'n yer gonna be doin' this schit wiff a gator ya'll might as well gets a Pitbull, yer chances would be about the same......

Of all things Toot could lie about.

Choot 'em, Troy!

What I'm thinkin.

#cliffnotes

Hes training you. He will have you over for dinner some day.

BTW, hows the squirrel and duck hunting there. I may have to beg for a visit.

Well, that was a little gay.......

The duck hunting south of there is supposedly good. Lots of squirrels but you’ll need hip boots for swamp and palmettos. The fishing is excellent and the area for that is unlimited.

You and yours would be welcome anytime Jag. Got a bunch more work that needs doing but I hope to get it completed in several more weeks or ever how long it takes.

Presently keeping an eye peeled for a deal on a Jet ski for the grandsons. Some folks I know have a party barge hanging in their boat house that they’ve used once in 7 years and they pretty much just want it gone so that’s another possible. Lots of folks in this area love their party barges.

It’s coming around.

Good one.

Had a throw away we fed called Buster. He was almost like a 30 lb weiner dog but had a head like a pit but longer normal dog nose. 15 inches high and thick of head and body and he could climb a chain link fence in the blink of an eye.
Had to keep him in the house when my sweet young first pointer Suzie was in the pen in heat.

Big tough mean airedale from down the street kept trying to get to her. Once i, 5th grade, went out to run the bastard off and Buster got out too.

Well, i near died of fright as the fight was on and then over just as fast with Dale hauling ass in a cripple manner.
Didnt see Dale for a week and when i did he was limping around down the street with both front legs bandaged all the way up and over his shoulders.

Dale never came around our place again.

RIP, Buster.

I used to go catch them out of folks' yards when I was a game warden. A big gator isn't that hard to handle when he is not in the water. We would put a lariat rope on a big one and just wear him out. I would get up in the back of the truck and let him fight the rope while I held on. We used to relocate them several miles away but they often came back home to cause more trouble or cause trouble at their new home. Louisiana has nuisance alligator hunters licensed to take gators all year so I got to where I would tie one off to a tree and call the hunter to come send him to the boot factory or where ever they send them. A gator visiting humans is not a good thing and it often gets started with fish cleaning. When they hear the electric fillet knives start up here they come. Then they end up killing dogs or sunning on your patio.

Looking at the deep claw marks and smoothed off floor boards in my boathouse I believe I’ve got a large visitor there from time to time.

At my old camp on lower Grand River some years back I got a rope on one that stayed on my floating dock and I towed him with the boat several water miles away and cut the rope. He was back 2 weeks later with the rope still on him. The gator hunters got him that September.

It doesn't sound like you're wanting to kill this guy when most of the advice is steering you to do it before he hurts someone. If its you he bites you only have yourself to blame. If its someone else you'll be kicking yourself in the ass, maybe for the rest of your life. So just do the deed or get someone else who like alligator meat to do it for you.

I think it’s under control. One not much longer than a yardstick ain’t exactly a major threat.
And he’s far from being the only one in the area. There are some big boys around.

Me just killing him is illegal .

Old Toot,

This has gone from an interesting encounter you've had to a cat lady convention with all of this estrogen showing up. Heaven forbid if you catch a snapping turtle or Gar.
Maybe they need to get out to the pet shop more.

Thanks for sharing and please don't take pictures. That will cause undo stress to the city kids.
Enjoy your new friend before he gets hold of a pack of Rottweilers and eats them. 😄

Folks mean well, HC.

I think he's following you so you can lead him to Synagogue.

Are you folks allowed to eat gator? Aren't they like belly crawlers/lizards and such and off limits? Nearly as off limits as shellfish?

Toots, all kidding aside. I guess have fun with him while you can. But I think of it like "my" badger. Got pics of him in the woodpile and I was happy to have him around knowing he was diggin' up gophers and ground squirrels on the place. He looked kinda cute in there.



then one night the dog started to barking and I found "my" badger had decided he might like to dig under the wire of the chicken Gulag. That didn't turn out so well for him.



Good luck with "your" gator.

I believe you're right.
You're doing well to talk about it. You haven't turned in your man card.
I spent many years exposing a generation or two to wildlife. Anything that scared someone was " the only good (fill in the blank) is a dead _______!😰
Some rural neighborhoods smell of urine, will have dozens of feral cats and a mouse problem. No harmless snakes around to eat them since people are scared of snakes. It's usually the big guys that are the most frightened. Just one example of a hundred.

You have a good night, Old Toot.

That’s cool but like you say, enough is enough.

I’m thinking my gator is kinda amazed and amused that a fuggin blond haired, blue eyed Jew has invaded his space !

As far as what’s allowed to be eaten,,,,I tend to break a few rules.

You do the same.

Another one of Toot's Tall Tales... now, it's an invisible baby gator.