Welcome to City-Data.com Forum!
U.S. CitiesCity-Data Forum Index
Go Back   City-Data Forum > U.S. Forums > Florida > Tampa Bay
 [Register]
Tampa Bay Tampa - St. Petersburg - Clearwater
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
View detailed profile (Advanced) or search
site with Google Custom Search

Search Forums  (Advanced)
Reply Start New Thread
 
Old 04-18-2010, 09:01 AM
 
Location: Tampa
5 posts, read 59,911 times
Reputation: 15
Hello all,

I'm somewhat new to the area and am fascinated by these prehistoric creatures!

I'm wondering if there are any places where I can be almost certain to see a gator.

Thank you for your time! -Kevin
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message

 
Old 04-18-2010, 09:04 AM
 
Location: Tampa, FL
849 posts, read 2,921,783 times
Reputation: 1045
A zoo?
All kidding aside, there is an alligator relocation area in John Chestnut Park, which is located in Pinellas County off McMullen Booth Rd. It is on the east side of Lake Tarpon. Every time I have gone out there, there are alligators sunning themselves along the waterway. That's the closest place I have found to see gators in the wild.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 04-18-2010, 09:41 AM
 
Location: Tampa
5 posts, read 59,911 times
Reputation: 15
Wow that sounds perfect! I'm excited

Thanks!

Last edited by zkmcdowel; 04-18-2010 at 10:02 AM..
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 04-18-2010, 10:09 AM
 
Location: Tampa
2,602 posts, read 8,301,319 times
Reputation: 1566
They used to have a living museum-type thing on the small Seminole reservation outside of town. They had a guy wrestle gators and stick his head in their mouths. I don't know if they ended up tearing it down for the casino.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 04-18-2010, 10:24 AM
 
Location: Tampa, FL
2,637 posts, read 12,628,863 times
Reputation: 3630
If you are near USF, Lettuce Lake Park is a great place to observe gators and other wildlife in habitat.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 04-18-2010, 10:31 AM
 
1,188 posts, read 2,319,452 times
Reputation: 1882
Quote:
Originally Posted by tilli View Post
If you are near USF, Lettuce Lake Park is a great place to observe gators and other wildlife in habitat.
Definitely see them there! Seriously, there is just about at least ONE gator for every good sized drainage pond with any vegetation, unless it is a new developed area. Gators are everywhere in Fla. You probably have walked right by one if you have been around any pond area, you just don't know it.

For the more obvious ones, including snakes....Lettuce Lake off Fletcher just west of I-75 is a great place! TAKE YOUR CAMERA and enjoy! Better yet, rent a canoe and paddle down any riverway. You will see gators a plenty that way! Just don't turn your canoe over along the way
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 04-18-2010, 10:38 AM
 
13,768 posts, read 38,186,004 times
Reputation: 10689
Al Lopex Park right across from RJ stadium on Dale Mabry. There is a lake with alligators,. This is mating season so they are on the move lookin for love.

Lowery Park Zoo has them too
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 04-18-2010, 01:43 PM
 
Location: Saint Petersburg, FL
1,881 posts, read 3,605,779 times
Reputation: 16547
I'm surprised more people don't see them around! We have a few I see swimming across a lake quite frequently.

Taylor Park, but that's in Pinellas so maybe not what you're looking for.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 04-18-2010, 02:24 PM
 
1,188 posts, read 2,319,452 times
Reputation: 1882
Quote:
Originally Posted by magijasakymaro View Post
I'm surprised more people don't see them around! We have a few I see swimming across a lake quite frequently.

Taylor Park, but that's in Pinellas so maybe not what you're looking for.
I see more gators than I see Dead People. LOL Sorry, I couldn't resist!
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 04-18-2010, 02:30 PM
 
Location: Tampa
1,246 posts, read 4,653,938 times
Reputation: 957
If you like canoeing, you can rent a canoe (or evena kayak) at Canoe Escape Canoe Escape: Canoeing the Hillsborough River near Tampa, Florida. They take you to the Hillsborough River, then afterwards they pick you up and bring you back to their store. You will see alligators and other wildlife pretty close up. They won't bother you, unless you bother them. However, I personally would not go for a swim. I have seen people in the water.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.

Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.


Reply
Please update this thread with any new information or opinions. This open thread is still read by thousands of people, so we encourage all additional points of view.

Quick Reply
Message:


Settings
X
Data:
Loading data...
Based on 2000-2020 data
Loading data...

123
Hide US histogram


Over $104,000 in prizes was already given out to active posters on our forum and additional giveaways are planned!

Go Back   City-Data Forum > U.S. Forums > Florida > Tampa Bay
Similar Threads

All times are GMT -6.

© 2005-2024, Advameg, Inc. · Please obey Forum Rules · Terms of Use and Privacy Policy · Bug Bounty

City-Data.com - Contact Us - Archive 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37 - Top