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I have been here 2 years and saw my first gator this weekend at Magnolia Plantation. That's right everyone, I FINALLY seen an alligator!
I see black widows all the time in the summer, but I look for them. think they are kind of cool. You probably won't even notice them. I know people that grew up here and have never seen any. I only had to kill one because it was in my trash bin outside and had a big belly. The trash bin also had 3 egg sacs, so the spider and the sacs had to go. I did see a brown widow my first year here. I only killed that because it made a web and was living under one of my patio chairs.
I have been here 2 years and saw my first gator this weekend at Magnolia Plantation. That's right everyone, I FINALLY seen an alligator!
I see black widows all the time in the summer, but I look for them. think they are kind of cool. You probably won't even notice them. I know people that grew up here and have never seen any. I only had to kill one because it was in my trash bin outside and had a big belly. The trash bin also had 3 egg sacs, so the spider and the sacs had to go. I did see a brown widow my first year here. I only killed that because it made a web and was living under one of my patio chairs.
Thank you everyone for the advice. The reason I asked is because every place is different. Yes I lived in Florida but it was basically Orlando and it was more city than anything else. In the 6 years of being there, I never crossed paths with a snake or a spider (surprisingly) and rarely had issues with mosquitos (I think they spray for them). I just wondered if I could expect the same in SC I've read a couple forums here and there about it and it kind of scared me! This eases my mind a bit!!! Thanks for the tips about the pond. I may convince my husband to look at a different plot.
I wouldn't change lots over this, the bugs are worse than the Gators near the water....
I have skied in the Ashley River with gators lining both sides in plain view without a care in the world.....
For Michael, bigger gators those over 5~6' are actually less of a threat to humans than smaller ones, the smaller ones tend to be more aggressive as they have to defend themselves and any territory they stake out against other gators or things wanting to get rid of them...
Just some input from a mom (relocated from NYC in 2008) of toddlers:
Palmettos - harmless, but I hate them. HATE. We have a year round contract with Terminex for them (they also have our termite bond, and check our crawlspace for issues). Worth the money. They also spray for mosquitos but really... I don't think it works. Between trees, gutters, if we don't clean our gutters pretty much every other day from October till April, if there's no cold snap, they're there.
Alligators - I know there was one in the pond in my subdivision. My issue is that if you don't have a fence, ponds are dangerous. A woman in my moms' group had a gorgeous 2.5 year old girl who drowned in a "pond" behind their house just this past year (most are not really ponds, they're drainage ditches, or as my husband calls them, "mosquito breeding pools.") because thy weren't fenced off from a pond. I've always been wary of it - found a gorgeous house in Mt P, but you weren't permitted to fence off from the "pond" due to aesthetics, so no thanks.
I have no problems with black widows, though I know a few people in Wescott who somehow see them all the time. We did have a poisonous snake in our backyard, but only spotted the one in the three years we've been in this house.
For Michael, bigger gators those over 5~6' are actually less of a threat to humans than smaller ones, the smaller ones tend to be more aggressive as they have to defend themselves and any territory they stake out against other gators or things wanting to get rid of them...
Yup............. we like the bigger ones.. well feel safer with the bigger ones.
I CANNOT believe I actually feel comfortable with a 10' gator in our back... never would have believed it prior to moving here.
Now he is just part of the scenery.
I did confront 'ours' one day.
He would sun on the banks of other peoples backyards.. never ours.
Well all of a sudden he started sunning on our bank.. something I did not care for.
Yes we have a fenced in yard for the boy to play in, but never unsupervised.. and the bank from that fence is easily 40-50'. But did not like him getting comfortable there.
I walked over, stayed my distance and tossed some rocks at him.. he did not flinch.. it was like a game of chicken him and I..looking into each others eye
I then found a bit of tree trunk and wacked him on the nose with it.......... he JUMPED and hauled butt back to the water.......... never came up on our bank again.
That'll teach 'em to play chicken with me
(believe me I am not playing a big shot here.. just funnin')
But as you said OTC.. we like the bigger one... the lil ones are aggressive stacking out their turf.
Guests coming over and ask... do you ever see a gator back there ???
I say YUP... there he is
As I said, I never would have believed it.. but is par for the course here and status quo.
Just some input from a mom (relocated from NYC in 2008) of toddlers:
Palmettos - harmless, but I hate them. HATE. We have a year round contract with Terminex for them (they also have our termite bond, and check our crawlspace for issues). Worth the money. They also spray for mosquitos but really... I don't think it works. Between trees, gutters, if we don't clean our gutters pretty much every other day from October till April, if there's no cold snap, they're there.
Alligators - I know there was one in the pond in my subdivision. My issue is that if you don't have a fence, ponds are dangerous. A woman in my moms' group had a gorgeous 2.5 year old girl who drowned in a "pond" behind their house just this past year (most are not really ponds, they're drainage ditches, or as my husband calls them, "mosquito breeding pools.") because thy weren't fenced off from a pond. I've always been wary of it - found a gorgeous house in Mt P, but you weren't permitted to fence off from the "pond" due to aesthetics, so no thanks.
I have no problems with black widows, though I know a few people in Wescott who somehow see them all the time. We did have a poisonous snake in our backyard, but only spotted the one in the three years we've been in this house.
Wow. That is so incredibly sad about that baby girl.
With the huge liability I can't believe there are so many ponds in residential areas that aren't fenced or protected in any way.
They may go by overall how many 'incidents/accidents'.... aka drownings.. for the record ?
But ONE is ONE TOO many !
But then what about homes with water access in the back... etc etc
People are not going to live in corrals.
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The reason I asked is because every place is different. Yes I lived in Florida but it was basically Orlando and it was more city than anything else. In the 6 years of being there, I never crossed paths with a snake or a spider (surprisingly) and rarely had issues with mosquitos (I think they spray for them). I just wondered if I could expect the same in SC 
