A question for our kayakers with dogs

[chalet05]

I had thought about this and then it came up today during a discussion with friends.

Isn't there a possibility an alligator could go after a dog in a kayak?? Obviously, none of you have had problems, but couldn't it happen? I don't know that much about alligator behaviors.

[BarbaraRose]

I just read about a guy who was fishing in his kayak in Florida last year with his dog and an alligator went after the dog knocking it into the water. Luckily the guy was able to pull the dog back into the kayak before the gator got it. The guy was wearing a helmet cam and there is a video on You-Tube of it.
I imagine it is pretty rare but it can happen. I wouldn't let the dog hang over the side of the kayak tho!

[Bethers]

I didn't take Peaches out in waters with lots of alligators. I'd be afraid she'd go after a swimming gator and end up it's food. Actually never took her in the kayak in Florida. But I have to admit I let her wade in some areas I probably shouldn't have.

[retiredhappy]

Even walking your dog beside a creek/river with alligators can be dangerous. Need to remember that they are really fast and have been known to lunge after things beside the water.

[dayspring39]

I do not kayak that is my disclaimer... It may be good to check with the ranger before taking the pet onto the water... they do not eat very often and if I remember right this is the time of year that they hibernate... Liz would know more about that as she has volunteered in the Florida parks...
Kathleen

[monik7]

That's why I like the West, no alligators!!!
Sandi

[BarbaraRose]

The west has mountain lions...

[monik7]

The west has mountain lions...

I encountered mountain lions several times in my early teens near my house in the hills. Each time they just turned and went the other way. I would really worry more about an alligator lunging from its resting place.
Sandi

[Bethers]

I like to think I'm careful no matter the animal, reptile, spider, etc, but I'm not always. And I'm not saying any who took their dogs in the waters in FL are wrong. I wasn't there. But I am more afraid of alligators attacking than I am bears. Go figure.

[BirdbyBird]

The only alligators I have seen are busy sunning themselves next to other readily available food sources that are being ignored. Now at night...that is a different conversation. I don't think I want to take a moonlight paddle.....

[JoanE]

In Florida, even a puddle can hide a gator. My daughter found out while hiking at Myakka with her dog. The dog is very large but when it went to the puddle suddenly a gator lunged. It didn't get the dog but scared my daughter and her dog.

Joan

[chalet05]

The only alligators I have seen are busy sunning themselves next to other readily available food sources that are being ignored. Now at night...that is a different conversation. I don't think I want to take a moonlight paddle.....

Thanks, Tina, that is what I suspected but was still curious.

[BirdbyBird]

I did not allow any dog dipping off the side of my kayak...even when Stuart begged..... and beg he did!