SUP on Lake Manatee - Alligators? (Bradenton: professionals, stats, moving to)

[SJBrit]

Hi - noob question here from someone unfamiliar with alligators. I'm moving to Bradenton soon from North Alabama, and will be about 10 mins from Lake Manatee. The idea of getting some exercise using a paddle-board really appeals to me, especially so close to home, but I must admit that the idea of being in and around the water with gators is a concern. We have them up here in AL, but not anywhere you'd ever encounter them day to day so I just don't have any experience.

Is this a valid concern? Is this one of those situations that's perfectly fine with a few sensible precautions? Or a real cause for concern?

Thanks for the feedback - especially from anyone familiar with Lake Manatee itself.

[rainroosty]

What the heck is, "SUP"?

Yes, you would get eaten if you did that. The gators in Florida are professionals.

[bbronston]

I can't answer specifically for Lake Manatee but I can tell you that most bodies of water have the potential to hold gators (even retention ponds) so a large lake like that probably has lots, and probably large ones. Gators will avoid you, typically, unless people have been feeding them but even those that haven't been fed have been know to attack people in relatively rare occasions. I think you just have to accept the risk if you decide to go there. I've heard stories of gators coming up into boats and canoes so I'm sure it would be nothing for them to grab an ankle on a paddle board. Likely to happen...probably not. Real possibility...sure, it could happen. It's not like they aren't there, or that they know better.

[motordavid]

Kayak or canoe, no problem...I would pass on the paddle board in any body of fresh water or non-salt water inlet near gulf. Out on the gulf in shallow water, yes to paddle board.

I agree that the gators I have seen are pros. If one of nearly any size gets a foot or hand, one is probably gonzo.
GL, mD

[SJBrit]

Originally Posted by rainroosty

What the heck is, "SUP"?

Stand Up Paddleboard

[hotkarl]

Florida+Fresh Water=Aligators

The math is very simple.

[SJBrit]

Originally Posted by hotkarl

Florida+Fresh Water=Aligators

The math is very simple.

Indeed. The question really is whether there is a real danger. Alabama + fresh water = water moccasins, but the chances of getting bitten are very minor.

[bbronston]

^^^That is really my point. We have water moccasins, too, btw. I don't know how you quantify the risk for any one place and activity. I suppose you could contact the FWC. They do have a pdf on their website that shows several years of stats and the overall number of attacks each year seems to run well under 20 events each year so it's not a high number given the size of the state and populations of people and gators. Of course, if you are one of those people who were attacked or killed, that is little consolation.

[SJBrit]

It comes down to probability in the end I guess. Sure attacks are rare, but if you go often enough to a risky spot and in a vulnerable craft then you run the risk of being one of the unlucky few. Perhaps a kayak is a better idea, or a longer drive to salt water.

[SJBrit]

This is pretty interesting - thanks for the tip. That's a very low bite rate considering it's the whole state: http://myfwc.com/media/310203/Alligator_GatorBites.pdf