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There has already been 13 fatal alligator attacks so far in this decade, compared with only 10 from 1970 to 1999. I'm guessing it's from lots of non natives moving to Florida and not knowing the risks.
It's either that or the fact that more and more crocociles are having their habits disrupted...I wonder if the housing bubble contributed to increasing the likeliness of encounters between alligators and people. Would be interesting to find out.
It's either that or the fact that more and more crocociles are having their habits disrupted...I wonder if the housing bubble contributed to increasing the likeliness of encounters between alligators and people. Would be interesting to find out.
First of all, the whole premise sounds a little questionable to me, since it's usually Crocodiles that KILL people when they attack, and very rarely alligators.
But, in any case, looking at that stat page, it looks like the decade over decade increase from the 90's to now is over 400%.
Still, you're talking about a total of 11 more attacks in the 00's than in the 90's. Large as a percentage, but still very small in comparison to the entire population, so it could just be happenstance.
I have not researched pop growth stats in Florida but my guess is that it has not grown 400% since 1999, even if you include additional tourist traffic, so there must be some other factor. My guess is that land development has encroached further into alligator habitats than ever before, putting an exponentially higher number of people into potential contact zones.
Gator population has skyrocketed in FL since gator hunting is way down in FL. Some genius declared gators an "endangered species" a while back and the massive hunting ended, and even today FL gator hunting is heavily restricted. Yet I remember a study that said that there was one gator for every 18 people in Florida.
gator hunters go to LA now because of less restrictions and regulations and the lower cost of a permit. A gator hunting permit in FL costs over $1,000 for an out of state resident and I believe the limit is 2 gators.
I bet a similar study of fatal maulings by mountain lions and bears, here out West, would yield similar results. There has been a population boom of predators.
As people become fatter, they become tastier... how can an Alligator exercise self-restraint against such tastiness?
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