Welcome to Florida RV country...CHOMP!

[dh50]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/alligator-eats-alligator_us_570efa87e4b03d8b7b9f7b30

[leslie]

I know about this, but I prefer not to think about it!

[pinstriper]

I've never heard of a bear eating another bear.

That doesn't really have anything to do with the topic, I'm just tryin' to keep Leslie thinking about bears.

[leslie]

I've never heard of a bear eating another bear.

That doesn't really have anything to do with the topic, I'm just tryin' to keep Leslie thinking about bears.

Not necessary. Anytime I sleep in the tip-out bunk, my husband makes comments about sleeping safely, knowing his Bear Early Warning System is operational.

[djsamuel]

I've never heard of a bear eating another bear.

That doesn't really have anything to do with the topic, I'm just tryin' to keep Leslie thinking about bears.

True. Bears eat people.

[pinstriper]

Maybe if it thought the other bear was a person, you know ? Maybe it could happen then.

[dh50]

[quote timestamp="1460814430" author="@pinstriper" source="/post/20596/thread"]I've never heard of a bear eating another bear.

That doesn't really have anything to do with the topic, I'm just tryin' to keep Leslie thinking about bears.

True. Bears eat people. [/quote]And bears love dogs.  After enough attacks on 'Fido' out for a stroll with master in established Central Florida neighborhoods, a controversial bear hunt was soon declared and underway.  Although I've dug his music forever, I always have mixed feelings when Ted Nugent comes to town.   That said,  Fido should feel safe...for now.  

[dh50]

That doesn't really have anything to do with the topic, I'm just tryin' to keep Leslie thinking about bears.

What d'ya mean?  I started the thread topic.....CHOMP!  x_x   

Got a bear joke I wished I could tell you, PS.  Just wouldn't translate, me thinks.

[leslie]

How come no one has mentioned a Florida panther yet? I saw one east of Lake Wales while driving past an orange orchard.

[mitch]

Let's not even get started on aggressive poisonous snakes.

[whoofit]

[quote source="/post/20610/thread" author="@leslie" timestamp="1460860324"]How come no one has mentioned a Florida panther yet? I saw one east of Lake Wales while driving past an orange orchard.[/quote]I think it's because they don't want to scare you. Panthers and tipouts are kind of like Velcro.

[dh50]

[quote timestamp="1460860324" author="@leslie" source="/post/20610/thread"]How come no one has mentioned a Florida panther yet? I saw one east of Lake Wales while driving past an orange orchard.[/quote]

Someone did mention them; refer to 'Trip Report' section:

Apr 11, 2016 at 4:13pm leslie said:


[font size="3"][font color="#1920e6"]Can the lions be far behind?
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Post by gwbushhog on Apr 11, 2016 at 9:35pm


[font size="3" color="#e63319"]Nope....in Florida, they're called Panthers: www.defenders.org/florida-panther/basic-facts

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[dh50]

[quote timestamp="1460891886" source="/post/20611/thread" author="@mitch"]Let's not even get started on aggressive poisonous snakes.[/quote]Agreed! Let's not get started!  Of all the things to worry about when living in Florida, poisonous snakes take second place for me personally, especially where my dogs and cats are concerned (lost two of 'em already).

Snakes are everywhere, especially Cottonmouths....nasty critters.  They've got me paranoid and I am not kidding.  Not too long ago, my dogs were out for morning relief when I hear a loud yelp from 'Reba', my big red dog.  I called her and she comes running with two punctures and blood dripping down her white chest from each hole.  Oh my ....oh no!  I begin to freak.  Really.  It appeared Reba had been bitten by what looked like a huge snake gaging by the spacing between the two piercings.  I scooped my beloved mutt up, all 60 lbs., and cradling as though a a baby, I loaded her into the car and hauled it to the closest vet.  All the while, Reba was calm though curious with my increased liveliness, mildly put.  Long story short, the 'all-knowing' vet sees her and confirms, yes, my dog had been bit by a sizable snake.  One perplexing point, however, was why there was no swelling as would normally occur quickly with a Cottonmouth. Vet concluded that it was a 'graze', a lucky one.  "Thank you very much,  that will be $$$$$."

Later, I decided to go have a look around the area from whence my dog's pained yelp arose.  It didn't take long to discover the source of Reba's snake bite!   Now I know full well there will be those among you reading this who will be skeptical...so be it.  What I found lying in the yard that day was a....(drum roll)....a BILL FISH!  You know, a bill fish like the big sailfish, marlins and swordfish you see on the fishing channels.  Those are adults, easily 1500# beasts.  This was a very young bill fish with an intact skeleton that was incredibly hard and sharp.  Even the little baby 'sword' (bill) was perfectly formed.  My dog had rolled on the remains and was impaled by the two front fins, very hard, sharp, unyielding fins.

Okay, fine.  Mystery solved, my mutt incurred no snake bite, but rather a run-in with a rotting juvenile bill fish.  WHAAAT?  We live close to water, but way in-land and bill fish exist in the OCEAN ONLY!  How did a baby bill fish end up in our front yard?  Spoke with NOAH to learn that bill fish nurseries have rarely been observed and not much is known about bill fish breeding habits and what not.  Best we can figure, a large bird dined in our trees after a fairly long flight across some of the Atlantic Ocean and the state of Florida....poor baby bill fish in tow.

Did I mention Florida's birds of prey and the many missing Chihuahuas?

[ammobob]

OK a snake story. While living in Tampa (1974/1975) and stationed at McDill AFB I was driving one of the back base roads and in front of me going across 1.5 lanes ( road was not big enough for 2 lanes) was what looked like a fire hose. Got close enough to see it was a snake that I hit with a pick-up truck. Front and back tires too. Got out to see but, found nothing and with swamp on both sides of the road was NOT going to venture past the pavement. Had multiple encounters with several 6' rattle snakes and water moccasins while bass fishing. Loved Florida but man does it have a lot of critters. 

[vmcmn]

Everything here in Fla. wants to eat you if you don't eat them first. LOL