Bad Guys, Bullets, and Boat Chases by Bob H. Lee

Author:Bob H. Lee
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: University Press of Florida
Published: 2016-09-15T00:00:00+00:00

The majority of gator attacks result from someone feeding them. Working from that premise, wildlife investigators canvassed every home on Lake Ashby in an attempt to determine who might have been feeding the alligators.

Mike believes he found the culprit—an old man living on the west side of the lake who raised chickens and ducks and geese. According to a neighbor, whenever a fowl died, he would toss the carcass into the lake behind his home instead of incinerating it.

“Another investigator and I went to talk to him,” Mike said. “We checked in the backyard, and there was this huge gator lying just off his beach. Now we’d been all over this lake and hadn’t seen a gator, but there was this gator floating in the water unafraid. Then it all made sense to me. When I asked the old man if he tossed his dead ducks in the lake, he said, ‘Oh, no, I wouldn’t do anything like that.’”

Mike never found a witness willing to testify in court. Other than a strong hunch, he had no proof of the old man’s alleged shenanigans. No charges were ever filed.

Mike wrapped up his take on the tragedy with these thoughts: “Most of the nuisance alligator complaints I’ve ever responded to, the gators have been fed. A tragic death like Adam’s most likely could have been prevented. People think feeding alligators is cute. What really happens is they’re conditioning them to associate humans with food. Not good. Often they start with little ones. Little ones become big ones. Big ones eat people.

“If folks would just stop feeding the alligators, we’d all be better off.”

Other Possible Causes of the Attack

During my research for this story I also interviewed GFC Investigator Curtis Brown, who’d canvassed several residents living in the vicinity of the county park. He received credible information about an individual who’d been feeding gators at the beach where Adam had been attacked. Again, there was not enough evidence to corroborate a criminal charge for prosecution.

Another possible cause of the gator attack is that the Binford dogs might have enticed the gator to come close to shore. It is a well-known fact that barking dogs are like candy to an alligator. I did not feel comfortable in speculating on this possibility as my telephone interview with Lorri Binford ended before that topic was broached. (She had only granted one other official press interview, and that was to a journalist from National Geographic.)

Postscript

Lorri Binford visits Lake Ashby Park once or twice a year. She goes to a quiet place hidden deep in the woods. Hanging on a red maple tree is a private memorial to Adam decorated with angels and plaques. She prays for him in heaven.

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