Crocodiles With Frickin' Magnets Attached to Their Heads

Brickwall writes "Florida, faced with a problem of crocodiles returning to residential neighborhoods after being relocated elsewhere, is trying to solve it by affixing magnets to the crocs' heads. The theory is the crocodiles use the Earth's magnetic field for navigation, and the magnets may interfere with that. What I'd like to know is, whose job is it to put the magnets on?" So far the magnet program appears to be working, unfortunately the crocs have started to collect huge amounts of take-out menus and child artwork.

Comments

Interesting.

[Anonymous Coward]

So, what happens when the tape eventually comes off? Do the croc's wander back?

Re:Interesting.

[RuBLed]

It seems that it was only used while transporting the crocs to disorient them so that they cannot find their way back.

Re:Interesting.

[RMH101]

Yes. And now they're angry...

Re:Interesting.

[b4upoo]

As a long time Florida resident with a heavy involvement in water sports I would just love to congratulate the state for bringing crocs back into my immediate environment. The joy of confronting a ten foot crocodile weighing about 500 lbs. on a popular beach is hard to describe. I did discover that unlike Jesus I can not walk on water.

Re:Interesting.

[tritonman]

Great, now not only can crocodiles kill YOU, now they can kill your hard drive too!

Re:Interesting.

[ChinggisK]

As a native Floridian I'd rather have them on your beach than in my pool.

Re:Interesting.

[sir_eccles]

Technically it was the crocodile's beach first. Perhaps we should consider strapping magnets to the heads of surfers and relocating them to your pool instead.

Re:Interesting.

[DustyShadow]

The state should really increase the number of alligators that can be hunted each year. This document(PDF) says the FL alligator population was 1.5 million in 2005. Florida only allows 5500 to be harvested a year. Note that it also says 334 attacks and 14 fatalities.

Re:Interesting.

[v1]

and tonto called, he has tipi in hand and wants you to get your house off his land.

Nowadays, being "first" doesn't make it yours. Having it, and being able to keep it for a sufficient period of time makes it yours.

Re:Interesting.

[Anonymous Coward]

I imagine that crocodiles, also involved with water sports, have been Florida residents for somewhat longer than you have. However, their small front claws are less effective than yours for grasping waterski pull ropes, only having evolutionary pressure to do so since you arrived in, what, 1982?

Re:Interesting.

[Oktober Sunset]

I'll bear that in mind when I steal your laptop. How long do I need to keep it before it's mine?

Re:Interesting.

[Anonymous Coward]

You know, water sports are technically illegal in florida under anti-sodomy laws.

Re:Interesting.

[LeadLine]

Long enough to get the police to call off the search... If they even try.

Re:Interesting.

[Anonymous Coward]

As a LIFE LONG Florida resident who's tired of being disturbed by all the noise pollution generated by your jet skis and ski boats I'm cheering for the crocs.

Also, your immediate environment? Your environment is land sonny boy; you don't have gills, you don't have fins, no tail, can't hold your breath more than a few minutes. This is why we had to invent snorkels, SCUBA and why you have to wear a life vest on your water craft. See, the water is the crocs environment and trespassers may be eaten.

Re:Interesting.

[iocat]

Wait... wtf... I thought Florida had ALLIGATORS, not CROCODILES. Have I been missing something?

Re:Interesting.

[DustyShadow]

I think you replied to the wrong guy...?

Re:Interesting.

[Overzeetop]

Yeah, but that's one tough son of a bitch to do watersports with a crocodile. Makes that whole trapeze, midget and running start thing seem pretty mainstream if you ask me.

Re:Interesting.

[berashith]

yup, every step off of dry land is a step off of the top of the food chain!

Re:Interesting.

[Synn]

We have both. We have alligators in most of the state and some crocodiles in the southern part of the state.

The alligators are pretty benign. I encounter them all the time when I'm kayaking and they leave you alone. They're pretty scared of people and about the only time they'd attack is if they mistook you for food or if you got between a mama and her babies.

Crocodiles are supposedly territorial though and much more aggressive.

Re:Interesting.

[fwr]

In Florida, five years, after which it is probably useless anyway.

Re:Interesting.

[fugue]

As territorial and aggressive as humans?

Re:Interesting.

[tuxgeek]

Not meaning to sound anal retentive, but Crocodiles are usually found in rivers such as the Nile, in Egypt.
I believe that Alligators are what you have in Florida.

There is a huge size difference, among other things, in the two species.

Re:Interesting.

[Anonymous Coward]

HA-HA that will teach the parent to not mess with croc's .. ALL YIUR BIECH ARR BILONG TO UZZ! they say.. lol

*gone to register lolcrocs.com*

Re:Interesting.

[Anonymous Coward]

I think its fair trade people are allowed to hunt 5000 odd crocs a year the crocks hunt a few beach bums both populations are maintained in a natural balance.

Re:Interesting.

[vux984]

Nowadays, being "first" doesn't make it yours. Having it, and being able to keep it for a sufficient period of time makes it yours.

Apparently the crocs didn't get the memo.

Or maybe they did. After all, if they can keep you off the beach or out of your pool for a 'sufficient period of time' it makes it theirs, right?

Re:Interesting.

[Anonymous Coward]

Remind me again how killing alligators reduces the crocodile population? Is that like how the death penalty reduces crime or sacrificing lambs appeases the Sun gods?

Re:Interesting.

[datapharmer]

Nile Crocs aren't the same as American Crocs. They are two completely different species. And in Florida we have Alligators and American Crocodiles. You can see both in some areas of South Florida around the nuke plants.

Re:Interesting.

[Pictish Prince]

The state should really increase the number of alligators that can be hunted each year. This document(PDF) says the FL alligator population was 1.5 million in 2005. Florida only allows 5500 to be harvested a year. Note that it also says 334 attacks and 14 fatalities.

Yeah, and it would reduce the population of the crocs' main competitors.

Re:Interesting.

[Pictish Prince]

According to wiki, there are about 1200 american crocodiles living in Florida. TFA says 2000.

Re:Interesting.

[Anonymous Coward]

In Florida, five years, after which it is probably useless anyway.

What are you refering to; a beach, a house, or a laptop?

Re:Interesting.

[geekoid]

Interesting* fact.
If you can run 100 MPH, you can move across water.

*For different values of interesting.

Re:Interesting.

[lorenlal]

Just wait till they get better at aiming their rifles.

OI!

Re:Interesting.

[Ungrounded Lightning]

Technically it was the crocodile's beach first.

Nope. Territory for each species is a separate mapping and all the maps overlap.

The tree in your backyard is no less yours for "belonging to" a pair of birds who are nesting in it or nearby.

What gets interesting is when different species interact. Many of them, especially predators, will drive away or kill competitors or threats. (Examples: Bobcats will drive away or kill off (and maybe eat) any other predators in their territory that they can. Goodbye housecats and stray dogs. And you really don't want to get near a buck deer in rut unless you're hunting it and well armed.)

We're made of meat. Predators generally recognize this and will eat us when they can. Like many other animals (even insects) we react by driving off or killing any individual predator that goes after us (especially our infants) our symbionts, and our food supplies.

We just happen to be VERY good at it. SO good that we have to decide whether it's a long-term benefit for us to ease off a little.

Re:Interesting.

[Ungrounded Lightning]

Your environment is land sonny boy; you don't have gills, you don't have fins, no tail, can't hold your breath more than a few minutes.

Whales, seals, and otters don't have gills either.

Unlike other apes our hair is aligned with the flow of water over our bodies - when swimming, not just when being rained on. And we have much better developed anti-drowning reflexes - both in the breathing system and the circulatory system.

Drop a chimp in a lake and he drowns. Pull him out before he dies and he'll likely get pneumonia anyhow. Drop a baby in water and he swims.

We've been in water enough for surviving and prospering there to have been very evolutionarily important.

So just because we're REALLY good at loping across the plains and running down antelope doesn't mean hanging out in water isn't part of our niche.

Re:Interesting.

[jd]

How many of them in congress?

Re:Interesting.

[jd]

That's nothing! Now, when crocodiles swim in circles, it'll generate an electric current. Shocking, I tell you!

Re:Interesting.

[cromar]

Drop a chimp in a lake and he drowns. Pull him out before he dies and he'll likely get pneumonia anyhow.

Will he get pneumonia before or after he rips your face off?

Re:Interesting.

[Anonymous Coward]

I think its fair trade people are allowed to hunt 5000 odd crocs a year the crocks hunt a few beach bums both populations are maintained in a natural balance.

I think your attempt at spelling and sentence construction is a crock.

Re:Interesting.

[berashith]

yes, the crocs cant aim worth a damn. I imagine it will be a few millenia before they get opposable thumbs.

But when they do figure out how to add rifle shooting to the swing tail and bite heads off of beach bums attacks, it will be a blood bath !

Re:Interesting.

[mhaskell]

But we do have guns and a real hankerin' for new belts and boots.

Re:Interesting.

[Autonom]

Noise Pollution = Being annoyed by other people having fun? Maybe, is you didn't refer to everybody as "sonny boy," someone might invite you to join in on the fun. And, LIFE LONG resident != Special Case

Re:Interesting.

[khellendros1984]

Yes.

Re:Interesting.

[Anonymous Coward]

No, Noise pollution = ambient sound at a volume level that will cause permanent hearing loss

Re:Interesting.

[SharpFang]

In Poland, 30 years if it was acquired in good faith (say, you forgot to take it in a restaurant and I took it for safekeeping, and left an ad "laptop found"), 40 years if it was acquired in bad faith (stolen).

After that period, the ownership of the property passes onto the person who keeps it, unless contested in court before the period expires.

Re:Interesting.

[BoothbyTCD]

It's generally an alligator in your pool, since crocs prefer salty or brackish water.

Re:Interesting.

[tuxgeek]

"And in Florida we have Alligators and American Crocodiles."
Well I'll be dipped in shit. I guess it's true "you learn something new every day, if you're not careful". I didn't know that.

"You can see both in some areas of South Florida around the nuke plants."
Now this sound like a good script for a SciFi movie. CrockZilla

Re:Interesting.

[Anonymous Coward]

Technically crocodiles cannot own property.

Also, fuck you :-)

Natural selection

[Harmonious Botch]

Not trying to troll here, but why not just shoot them? Some crocs appear to love to be around humans, some not. Kill the ones who do, and let the ones who prefer to stay away from people have the chance to breed. In a few decades, we'll have a race of human-adverse crocs.

Re:Natural selection

[TheLink]

"why not just shoot them?"

Because most people don't like handbags with bullet holes in them. Same goes for wallets.

As for belts, it's hard to get the holes consistently in the right places.

Re:Natural selection

[tpgp]

In a few decades, we'll have a race of human-adverse crocs.

In a few decades huh? Your understanding of genetics is as simplistic as your understanding of crocodile behaviour.

As a previous poster has said, the objective is to relocate, not shoot them. This species of animal is also considered vulnerable (quote) or facing a high risk of extinction in the wild. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service designates it as Endangered, or in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range. The primary threat to this animal comes from habitat loss.

Re:Natural selection

[Tablizer]

why not just shoot them?

Because you might damage perfectly good magnets, silly.
       

Re:Natural selection

[anagama]

In a few decades, we'll have a race of human-adverse crocs.

Bad idea. Humans tend to find human-adverse aversive.

Re:Natural selection

[codeButcher]

I guess as long as humans (and their pets, and their garbage) are tasty, human-adverse crocs are a pipe dream.

Re:Natural selection

[Anonymous Coward]

Lets just kill everything...you and this guy http://slashdot.org/~Warll are complete douchebags.

Re:Natural selection

[ssintercept]

The primary threat to this animal comes from habitat loss.

it should read- The primary threat to this animal comes from the human race.

for the record: i am not any leftie, granola eatin, moonbeam hugging retard.

however, this cavalier attitude towards destroying life because it is inconvenient is just maddening to me.

Re:Natural selection

[CarbonShell]

First, this has nothing to do with natural selection.

Actually you even show a clear ignorance for natural selection because you want to kill the ones that actually adapt and have become better hunters and can thus provide more food.
I.e. the basis for evolution under the 'natural selection' (I'm kinda keeping it simple)

Without wanting to start a pro/contra hunting argument, it is kinda like saying you are helping nature by going hunting.
Uhm, no. What you are doing is simply cutting down the healthy ones and leaving the rest.
While naturally speaking you should be hunting the sick, weak and old (like their natural predators do).
But then which hunter wants to eat that meat?

Second this is not only an issue with Crocs but with many more animals. Or should I say it is less of an animal then of a human issue.

Unlike humans, animals still need to hunt for their food and are not particularly picky when they find something they can eat.
And the easier they can get to it, the better.

This is where we come in.
* trash:
It might seem like trash for us but anything edible you throw away will probably attract animals.
Note, this does not exclude trash that is not thrown into the bin but can basically include anything we drop or store like bread crumbs or our basement food stock.

* habitat:
Rodents like mice, rats or cockroaches are typically problems in our habitats, among others to the above-mentioned trash issue.
But you might think, hey these are only mice, we were talking about Crocs, you would have to remember that there are animals out there that hunt these, f.i. snakes.

In addition to that our habitats are also warm/cool and protect us from the weather.
And if they protect us, they also protect animals.

Plus our other technological advances attract animals a well.
F.i. Tar roads that can heat up quite nicely are ideal places for reptiles.
Some animals love our hoses and wire isolation.

* pets:
Even our own pets are viable food sources to hunters and our domestication can cause them to lose their natural suspicion.
And maybe that log they are sniffing is not really a log.

* animal habitat reduction:
As humanity increases in size we stupidly also increase our habitat size in crazy proportions and thus reduce that of the animals.
This makes it easier for animals to enter our habitats.
Kinda like if you compare the distance between towns 100 years ago to now. Back then the habitat spheres were far from each other. Today these spheres are much closer, touch or even overlap.

Plus the amount of crocs might also be forcing the crocs to hunt in larger areas.

But it would probably be more of the former then the latter.

Humans are not interesting as a food source for most of the animal kingdom.
To big, tough meat, hard to catch and dangerous.
Nearly all accidents of animals attacking humans was because the humans were playing around in areas they should not be.

More humans die in Africa due to Hippoes then to Crocs.
More humans die in Australia to Jellyfish then to sharks.

Re:Natural selection

[hydromike2]

thats why they use pitchforks

Re:Natural selection

[MrNaz]

You forgot to end with "Also, fuck you."

Re:Natural selection

[gamanimatron]

First, this has nothing to do with natural selection.

Actually you even show a clear ignorance for natural selection because you want to kill the ones that actually adapt and have become better hunters and can thus provide more food.
I.e. the basis for evolution under the 'natural selection' ... What you are doing is simply cutting down the healthy ones and leaving the rest.
While naturally speaking you should be hunting the sick, weak and old (like their natural predators do).

The GP was specifically talking about artificial selection for a specific desired result - basically, de-facto breeding of shy crocs. This is interesting, though likely illegal and unworkable.

You, on the other hand, having staked out the intellectual high ground by leveling accusations of ignorance, proceed with an only vaguely coherent rant about emulating the natural circumstances under which crocs get killed, add some sweeping statements and bold (even foolhardy) assertions about the mechanics of "natural" selection - in a world where we have taken over the top slot in pretty much every food chain, and are working on creating some new ones from scratch. This, after having completely missed the point of the post you are replying to.

Meh.

Re:Natural selection

[Huntr]

They don't shoot the nuisance crocs because American crocs (Crocodylus acutus) are federally and Florida-state endangered. There are only like 1500-2k of them left in the US, although there are more in Central America.

Re:Natural selection

[Anonymous Coward]

>"why not just shoot them?"

that was the old administrations motto. change has come to america...

Re:Natural selection

[Muad'Dave]

...artificial selection for a specific desired result - basically, de-facto breeding of shy crocs. This is interesting, though likely illegal and unworkable.

Illegality aside, these scientists artificially selected 'shy' foxes for breeding and ended up with tame, dog-like foxes. Fascinating read, BTW.

Re:Natural selection

[DamienRBlack]

... In a few decades, we'll have a race of human-adverse crocs.

Either that or we'll have a race of bullet resistant, really pissed off crocs.

Also, fuck you? ... Did I do that right? Maybe a little more sass. Eh-hem, also, fuck you! No, no, this meme just isn't working for me.

Re:Natural selection

[drinkypoo]

In a few decades huh? Your understanding of genetics is as simplistic as your understanding of crocodile behaviour.

There was a recent slashdot story (let's see if google will turn it up) ah here we are, Acquired Characteristics May Be Inheritable. Amazing how the only way to find anything on slashdot is to use someone else's search engine. Anyway, you may well be wrong. The jury is still in deliberation. Don't be such a prick when it comes to things like this (I know, look who's talking) because science is still marching onward.

Re:Natural selection

[Anonymous Coward]

Right... I didn't even read to the end.
People are hazard for animals(no matter we want it or not). Animal that doesn't avoid a hazard is less capable of surviving, thus, it's inferiors to other entities of same specie. Now, superior croc would be able to feed of people and get away with that, but they fail, simple example of evolution.
However, I feel sorry for crocs... Poor little ****bags...

Re:Natural selection

[drinkypoo]

Actually you even show a clear ignorance for natural selection because you want to kill the ones that actually adapt and have become better hunters and can thus provide more food.

What? If they are going after prey which historically has committed genocide on creatures it finds inconvenient, how is that an advantageous adaptation? I don't know why the crocs are moving in on people more; maybe there's more of them, or maybe their food is getting scarce for some other reason. Too lazy to RTFA; either way, they're not that bright, it wouldn't be that good an idea, and I'd rather just kill them and have some croc skin if they run up in my back yard to try to eat my pets or something. To be fair, we've probably been running over squirrels in the road since we invented cars... So I doubt that there's any chance of "convincing" the crocs not to move in and chow on fifi.

Re:Natural selection

[Camann]

I believe you have this backwards. 'shy' crocs in the gamanimatron's post means the ones who avoid humans, not more tame.

Re:Natural selection

[Anonymous Coward]

"why not just shoot them?"

Because it's less guilt-ridden to mess up their navigation so that the swim out into the middle of the Atlantic and drown/freeze where nobody sees them.

Re:Natural selection

[spiderbitendeath]

The American Crocodile is a threatened species, and is therefor illegal to kill. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Crocodile#Conservation_status

Re:Natural selection

[Anonymous Coward]

"however, this cavalier attitude towards destroying life because it is inconvenient is just maddening to me."

I agree with the exception of wasps.

Re:Natural selection

[bussdriver]

How about we shoot the humans who threaten animals with their careless abuse of the earth? After a few generations we'll have fool-adverse humans!?

Re:Natural selection

[Anonymous Coward]

You use the terms "human" and "animal" as if humans aren't animals. Everything that humans do is just as much a part of natural selection as everything the rest of the universe does. Just because we happen to be much more evolved than crocs doesn't mean that our actions are in any way unnatural.

Re:Natural selection

[Anonymous Coward]

The attitude, though, towards protecting one's species against an invasion by another, carnivorous species is very much an animal thing. It's something we know to do from a very deep, innate level.

Re:Natural selection

[DustyShadow]

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service designates it as Endangered, or in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range. The primary threat to this animal comes from habitat loss.

There are over 1.5 million alligators in Florida. The species has not been on the endangered list since 1987. From the PDF at link you provided: "In 1987, the Fish and Wildlife Service pronounced the American alligator fully recovered and consequently removed the animal from the list of endangered species." The state of Florida allows 5500 to be harvested a year. It is clear that it is time to up the limit.

Re:Natural selection

[DustyShadow]

Wrong. The alligator was taken off the endangered list in 1987. http://www.fws.gov/endangered/factsheets/alligator.pdf

A simple drive across I-75 will help you realize they are not endangered. They can be seen about every 25-50 yards on the side of the highway in the canals. They are EVERYWHERE.

Re:Natural selection

[DustyShadow]

I meant to say "a drive across I-75 in south Florida." There is a reason it is called "Alligator Alley."

Re:Natural selection

[Anonymous Coward]

I think you just offended a bunch of southpaws by calling them retards. :(

If you mean liberal, say liberal not leftie.

Re:Natural selection

[Synn]

Wrong. The alligator was taken off the endangered list in 1987.

This isn't about alligators, it's about crocs. They're different and Florida has both.

Re:Natural selection

[Rich0]

Should we re-introduce smallpox since it is clearly endangered? :)

I'm all for conservation. However, there has to be a better solution than people chasing crocodiles around town. I'd release them 100 miles away or something - how quickly could they possibly migrate? If a particular tagged croc is that tenacious go ahead and turn it into luggage, or sell it to somebody interested in starting a league for croc marathons.

Re:Natural selection

[Anonymous Coward]

I agree with the exception of PETA

Re:Natural selection

[Dare nMc]

I don't see how relocation would provide anything useful (other than a short term good feeling) to a problem caused by loss of habitat. When loss of habitat is the cause, over-populating the habitat they do have makes little sense. Crocs do seam to be able to attain a natural balance quickly in the habitats they have without introduction from outside. Basically moving croc's into another crock area is going to cause a reduction in local population at least equal to the number introduced. So very little difference in killing the crock by human hands, or forcing them to kill each other by feel good acts of moving them closer to each other. Now if we open a new habitat, then by all means relocate them. Other wise the best reaction is to walk up to the homeowner taking up the crocks habitat, and ask: do you want to live here, or can the crock move in? when they say this is my property, hand them the gun and make them blow it away, and cut it up making a huge mess right on the lawn. At least this way the homeowners/neighbors, etc know some of the cost of moving into a place where other were first.

Re:Natural selection

[Culture20]

this cavalier attitude towards destroying life because it is inconvenient is just maddening to me.

Spotted owls and kangaroo rats are inconvenient. Crocs are dangerous predators which are okay considering humans as prey.

Re:Natural selection

[Anonymous Coward]

They didn't breed for shy foxes. They bred for tame foxes.

I'm actually wondering when those foxes will hit the US pet market.

Re:Natural selection

[Anonymous Coward]

You must have undergone selective pressure for being a tool. The article actually says they selected for tameness, not shyness.

"Belyaev decided to test his theory by domesticating foxes; in particular the Russian Silver Fox. He placed a population of them in the same process of domestication, and he decided to submit this population to a strong selection pressure for inherent tameness."

Re:Natural selection

[Anonymous Coward]

Not trying to troll here, but why not just shoot them? Some crocs appear to love to be around humans, some not. Kill the ones who do, and let the ones who prefer to stay away from people have the chance to breed. In a few decades, we'll have a race of human-adverse crocs.

We don't have crocs in the wild in the U.S. We have gators fool

Re:Natural selection

[Anonymous Coward]

Ah, now it makes sense why there's a hole in my wallet, and why all my money seems to vanish.

Instead I want one of those magnetized wallets you're talking about. Excellent place for me to place all my credit cards!

Re:Natural selection

[rantingkitten]

Yeah man, good idea. Let's just wipe out any species which happens to be an inconvenience for humans.

By the way, if you shoot it, you're still going to have to get someone to load it in a truck and haul the carcass away unless you want five hundred pounds of reptile flesh decaying in your yard. As long as you're going to have to cart it away one way or another, why not, y'know, have a heart and let it live?

The idea that a generation of human-fearing crocodiles would arise from your plan is equally laughable. Hell's wrong with you?

Re:Natural selection

[StikyPad]

Good call. And we liberals are too retarded to know when people are insulting us anyway, so we won't care. ...

Re:Natural selection

[StikyPad]

hand them the gun and make them blow it away, and cut it up making a huge mess right on the lawn.

I'm confused.. is that supposed to be a deterrent or an incentive? Also, who gets to eat it?

Re:Natural selection

[memnock]

Alligators are not crocodiles.

Re:Natural selection

[Anonymous Coward]

Lot's of species are labeled as endangered that aren't. I still wouldn't want them in my backyard and if there I'd kill them.

Let's not argue and say that they are endangered - IMNSHO attaching a rare earth magnet to them that messes with their sense of direction is more cruel that killing them.

Oh, wait - I get it they're trying to turn the crocs into liberals. (No sense of direction.) That's simply cruel and unusual punishment. I'd rather be a handbag.

Re:Natural selection

[nasor]

You seem to be under the assumption that natural selection has a "goal" or something with respect to making animals better hunters etc., and that human activities undermine that goal. If hanging around humans starts to lower an animal's probability of survival and reproduction (eg, because people are shooting them) then that trait will be naturally selected against because those crocodiles are now less fit.

Re:Natural selection

[Anonymous Coward]

Ass.

Shoot them. We can make shoes and handbags and wallets out of the parts without holes. We can eat the meat. I see no reason not to shoot them when they're infringing on OUR habitat and endangering humans. They may be endangered in their habitat but they damn well better be extinct in hime!

Re:Natural selection

[geekoid]

Because people understand the the loss of habitat is caused by humans?
And if you say "comes from the human race." it's to vague.
So they wisely list the specific reason so people can understand and/or possible come up with a solution.

Stop being so myopic.

Re:Natural selection

[DustyShadow]

Yes i understand. I didn't read clearly.

Re:Natural selection

[Anonymous Coward]

So your against abortion?

Re:Natural selection

[autophile]

Rodents like mice, rats or cockroaches

Aha! Gotcha! Cockroaches aren't rodents! I just defeated j00r entire argument! Nyeah!

:D

Re:Natural selection

[Chosen Reject]

For a site that tries to serve the interest of nerds, who are notorious for getting details correct, it's amazing the number of people who have pointed out, like you, that alligators are not endangered while replying to a comment that mentions that American Crocodiles are.

It's not like we're talking about two different species of Crocodiles. This isn't like talking about the Northern Spotted Owl (endangered) and the California Spotted Owl (not endangered), this is like talking about rats and kangaroo mice. Sure they might look alike at first glance, but they're not the same, and their names don't even look similar. Your post is especially egregious as the GP even listed the scientific name, and then you link a paper that also has a completely different scientific name listed right at the top in bold, large-font letters.

Again, we're not talking the difference between
Strix occidentalis caurina and
Strix occidentalis occidentalis.

We're talking the difference between
Crocodylus acutus and
Alligator mississippiensis.

In the case of the Spotted owls, the scientific names look similar, but the words "alligator" and "crocodile" look nothing alike and their scientific names look even more dissimilar.

Re:Natural selection

[Anonymous Coward]

however, this cavalier attitude towards destroying life because it is inconvenient is just maddening to me.

So your against abortion are you?

Re:Natural selection

[Arthur Grumbine]

* also:
Fuck you.

Re:Natural selection

[Huntr]

Saying it is due to habitat loss is not cavalier nor does it imply that any species are considered inconvenient. Its more precise than simply saying "due to humans", although that is an accurate statement. Humans cause the habitat loss, the habitat loss causes the croc decline.

Re:Natural selection

[ssintercept]

seeing as i would never be able to carry a baby its not up to me. however, i would not be a good father so grab the coat hanger and flush away

all kidding aside. i am not pro- life (i think they are terrorists) but there are so many options now adays- abortion- should be a last resort

Re:Natural selection

[Huntr]

Great. This discussion is about the American croc, not the American alligator. I even spelled out the scientific name in my original post for you.

Re:Natural selection

[Anonymous Coward]

This would be less confusing, overall, if the picture that accompanied the original article wasn't a picture of an Alligator (under the duct tape), not a Crocodile.

Re:Natural selection

[SharpFang]

A submachine gun in firm hands will do the job nicely too.

Clearly

[assemblerex]

nothing can go wrong here.

Re:Why?

[Anonymous Coward]

Please read and understand the summary before asking stupid questions.

Why not just shoot them?

Because the objective is to relocate them, not to kill them.

Also, fuck you.

I can't imagine the croc being very happy about being dizzy all the time.

They use the magnetic field for navigation, not balance. Crocodiles don't even have a sense of balance as we know it, what with having no internal ears and all.

More over how does this stop them from wondering in to town?

If they can't find the town, they can't exactly wander through it, now can they?

lame

[emart]

the lamest thing you could possibly put on a crocs head. i mean, c'mon! at least attach a fake wig to the magnet or something.

Re:lame

[Hooya]

> the lamest thing you could possibly put on a crocs head

Yeah, if you're affixing something to their heads, why not *airquotes* Lasers *airquotes* ?

Re:lame

[Mindcontrolled]

The magnets are clearly just there to quickly attach a laser with a metallic casing to them, then to remove it when the job is done.

This, friends, is all a cover-up. Plausible deniability and all. "Disorienting crocs". Sure.

If it looks like a croc and walks like a croc, it is abundantly clear that it is just another tool of the concspiracy!

Re:lame

[JustOK]

or its an alligator

Crocs? In Florida?

[Brissie_lad]

There are no Crocodiles in Florida, except in zoo's or animal parks. There are plenty of Alligators however.

Re:Crocs? In Florida?

[Anonymous Coward]

That may be true now, but wait until they start putting magnets on the Crocodiles in Egypt!

Re:Crocs? In Florida?

[NoKaOi]

Yeah, crocodiles, in Florida. From the article:
State biologists are studying the temporary use of magnets to disrupt the internal navigation of federally and state-protected American crocodiles, which have been spotted most often in neighborhoods of Miami-Dade and Monroe counties.

And because every good /. comment requires a wikipedia reference: American Crocodile: "...there is a remnant population of less than 1200 in Florida, United States"

Re:Crocs? In Florida?

[tpgp]

There are no Crocodiles in Florida.

Wrong.

Re:Crocs? In Florida?

[delvsional]

There are no Crocodiles in Florida, except in zoo's or animal parks. There are plenty of Alligators however.

Actually, the article is about crocodiles and it is correct. There are crocodiles. About 2000, the species has made a great comeback from near extinction due in large part to the cooling canals at Turkey Point power plant. There are 186 Miles of cooling canals that are 5 feet deep and 200 feet wide. If you look on google maps near the homestead raceway, it looks like a giant radiator. This area is protected from all civilian interference and the animals thrive there. Other areas that the crocodiles go to are the biscayne bay and the everglades. they travel back and forth using the canal systems.

Re:Crocs? In Florida?

[Anonymous Coward]

Florida has native crocodiles. We also have native alligators. LOTS of them. We eat them. Sometimes they eat pets or the occasional jogger who decides to mimic alligator food by kneeling next to the water to tie their shoes. There are "Don't Feed the Alligator" signs all over the place. They aren't too dangerous if your careful. Most of the time they just lay around on the shore getting fat like tourists until they get too big and migrate to another retention pond where there used to be a swamp.

Re:Crocs? In Florida?

[laejoh]

<voice type="Muhammed Saeed al-Sahaf">There are no Crocodiles in Florida, except in zoo's or animal parks.</voice>

There, I corrected your comment

Re:Crocs? In Florida?

[GooberToo]

There are no Crocodiles in Florida, except in zoo's or animal parks.

You say that only because you've yet to visit the sewers of Florida. ;)

Re:Crocs? In Florida?

[LearnToSpell]

There's no apostrophe in zoos either, but that didn't stop you.

Re:Crocs? In Florida?

[geekoid]

"..it looks like a giant radiator."
Becasue it is?

RE:

[myVarNamesAreTooLon]

Magnets? What's the matter? Couldn't get lasers?
(because every creature deserves a warm meal)

Get sharks with laser beams.

[www.sorehands.com]

That will take care of the crocs.

Re:Get sharks with laser beams.

[Anonymous Coward]

But what will we do when we are overrun by the sharks? Won't that be an even bigger problem?

Re:Get sharks with laser beams.

[Soulshift]

That's what the cyborg raptors are for!

Re:Get sharks with laser beams.

[MrNaz]

Will cyborg raptors freeze to death in the winter?

Re:Get sharks with laser beams.

[ozphx]

Not if they drink a nice warming cup of booze from RAPTOR JESUS.

Re:Get sharks with laser beams.

[Anonymous Coward]

But what will we do when we are overrun by the sharks? Won't that be an even bigger problem?

Nah, that's why we have manatees with torpedo launchers.

Re:Why?

[TapeCutter]

"Why not just shoot them?"

Here in Australia the authorities also try to avoid shooting problem crocs, instead they send them to a croc farm for handbag breeding.

Crocs? In Florida? Yes, actually.

[Tsar]

There are no Crocodiles in Florida, except in zoo's or animal parks. There are plenty of Alligators however.

These are American crocodiles.
And yes, there are plenty of alligators in Florida—which is why they aren't endangered.
The American crocodile is endangered, however, which is pointed out in article that you didn't read.

Shouldn't You Have ...

[Anonymous Coward]

... submitted this to FARK first?

Go North Young Crock

[Tablizer]

Now they all walk north. Alaskans will have more than polar bears to worry about now.
   

Re:Go North Young Crock

[tommyhj]

Would depend on the orientation of the magnet while it was attached. hmm, maybe you could program animals go in a certain direction by blindfolding them and stroking their heads with magnets in different orientations?! Add lasers and we have homing-sharks!

Re:Go North Young Crock

[Anonymous Coward]

Now they all walk north. Alaskans will have more than polar bears to worry about now.

 

Palin?

Re:Go North Young Crock

[Anonymous Coward]

I for one welcome our new and directionally challenged crock overlords.

Re:Why?

[Warll]

What makes you think for a second that I was advocating they be shot? Yes your right I used the wrong word. As to your last point, wonder around enough and you'll wonder into a town. Anwyay its bed time. PS: Please don't swear, it serves little purpose but to hurt people's feelings.

Re:Why?

[mrsteveman1]

Wondering about what? Tasty house pets?

Last Words

[Tablizer]

"Dad, something is stuck to our bumper! I heard a clang."

If I understand this correctly...

[Narnie]

I could baste my old magnetic HDs in chicken broth and feed them to these "magnetically enhanced crocodiles" as a way to destroy my precious personal data?

Re:If I understand this correctly...

[geekoid]

Yes, but they mush be hand fed.
Good luck with the third one.

Re:Why?

[tpgp]

I am not the AC you're replying to, but:

What makes you think for a second that I was advocating they be shot?

Maybe because you said "Why not just shoot them?"

Wonder around enough and you'll wonder into a town.

Yeah, but we're not talking about wandering into town, we're talking about them going back to the same place they've been removed from.

Honestly - if you'd read the article, you'd have had no reason to ask the questions you did.

Re:Why?

[Zedrick]

Why not shoot the people of Florida? I can't imagine people being happy about living in crowded, polluted cities all the time. The population is way too big and alligators, unlike humans, doesn't destroy the environment or to drive other species to extinction. Not to mention that they were there first.

Re:Why?

[Warll]

Maybe because you said "Why not just shoot them?"

I was asking why not to shoot them, not saying that they should be shot.

Honestly - if you'd read the article, you'd have had no reason to ask the questions you did.

Or I could have at least not misread the summery.

Re:Why?

[kheldan]

Heh, for once, an AC that I can agree with!

Re:Why?

[Warll]

Um, alright, ah, ok I got one, they'll shoot back and bullets aren't free. Now why not go to bed?

Florida? Crocs? Huh?

[Evil Pete]

Alligators in Florida! Crocodiles in Africa, Asia, Australia.

I guess there is some association here with "sharks with lasers". Though here in oz I know which one I rather swim near if I had to. From most to least dangerous (relative) I'd say: Crocodiles, box jelly and then sharks. Sharks eat people more by accident, box jellies just bump into you by accident ... crocs will hunt you if they see you and pursue by water or land.

Re:Florida? Crocs? Huh?

[Xest]

"Alligators in Florida! Crocodiles in Africa, Asia, Australia."

And er... the Americas:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Crocodile

Re:Florida? Crocs? Huh?

[bongey]

The pick clearly is an alligator , you can tell by the nose, it is wide not narrow. "This captured crocodile has magnets taped to its head before relocation to another site." I think not. Also generally I think this would a problem with alligators. Considering the croc population in florida is around 1200 (wiki), but estimates for alligator populations in the US are estimated to be 1 million( http://www.npca.org/marine_and_coastal/marine_wildlife/alligator.html) . And if you look into the alligator, the routinely have problems with alligators because "inhabits wetlands that frequently overlap with human-populated areas" (wiki). I don't know this could be applied to both species, but I don't think there is as much of a croc problem as alligator problem.

Re:Florida? Crocs? Huh?

[geekoid]

The Americas have crocs as well.

I mean, throw me a frickin' bone here!

[Brett Buck]

You know, I have one simple request. And that is to have sharks with frickin' laser beams attached to their heads. Now evidently my cycloptic colleague informs me that that cannot be done. Ah, would you remind me what I pay you people for, honestly? Throw me a bone here! What do we have? Crocodiles with magnets? Are they ill-tempered?

Re:Why?

[Anonymous Coward]

I was asking why not to shoot them, not saying that they should be shot.

Frankly, you're an idiot and someone should shoot YOU. And, it's "wander", not "wonder", you brainless twit.
Also, fuck you. :-)

who will put them there?

[franksun]

steve irwin ofcourse... no wait

Alligators

[keytohwy]

They're gators, not crocs.

Re:Alligators

[Anonymous Coward]

Apparently not. Most know of the gators, but there are a few crocs out there, too. Read the article or use wikipedia.

Re:Why?

[kheldan]

Why not shoot the people of Florida? blah blah blah

Would you care to volunteer to be the first for this grand experiment? Reduce your carbon footprint, shoot yourself!
Also, fuck you. :-)

why don't we put magnets on canadian geese.

[schwillis]

we should put the magnets on canadian geese so they can't find their way into jet turbines.

Re:why don't we put magnets on canadian geese.

[Theoboley]

Right, So then they will stick to the sides of the airplane like hood ornaments :D That i would love to see.

Which just goes to prove the rule

[hyphen76]

That there is nothing you cannot solve with some judicious use of duct tape.

Re:Which just goes to prove the rule

[Gandalf_Greyhame]

That there is nothing you cannot solve with some judicious use of duct tape.

Duct tape is like the force. It has a light side and a dark side and it holds the universe together

Re:Which just goes to prove the rule

[FinchWorld]

Well as seen as these jokes are coming out, heres something I've noticed, specifically you only ever need 2 tools, WD40 and duct tape.

If it moves and it shouldn't, use duct tape.

It it doesn't move and it should use WD40.

So what happens if you spray WD40 on duct tape. I've considered testing it, but I fear it might cause some sort of paradox, leading to this reality imploding.

Re:Which just goes to prove the rule

[Gandalf_Greyhame]

I disagree - the only tool you need is a hammer. EVERY problem can be solved with a hammer, or if it cannot actually be solved, it can be reduced to a simpler form

Re:Which just goes to prove the rule

[Anonymous Coward]

I forgot the password to my RSA key, I need to restore it... how to do this with my hammer?

Re:Which just goes to prove the rule

[Gandalf_Greyhame]

I forgot the password to my RSA key, I need to restore it... how to do this with my hammer?

you can either:
a) beat yourself over the head with said hammer until such time as your brainwaves have ceased (thus negating the need for your RSA key)
or
b) attack the encrypted drive with the hammer until such time that it has turned to dust, therefore reducing the problem to that of irrecoverable data loss.

While it is true that your RSA key cannot be recovered with a hammer, these two examples show that the problem can still be simplified with the use of a hammer

Re:Which just goes to prove the rule

[Anonymous Coward]

and remember, if at first you dont succeed, get a bigger hammer!

Re:Which just goes to prove the rule

[snspdaarf]

Actually, the real danger is combining a microwave oven and non-fat dairy creamer.

Re:Which just goes to prove the rule

[Yetihehe]

I've tried it. WD40 wins (unsticks tape). But my house was destroyed in the event, so better don't try it at home you still want to live in.

Re:Which just goes to prove the rule

[Anonymous Coward]

You forgot the 3rd tool. Hammer, the bigger the better.

Re:Which just goes to prove the rule

[Anonymous Coward]

Give me the hammer. I'll get you to remember the RSA key very quickly with it, once I've tied you to a chair.

Re:Why?

[Zwicky]

Why not just shoot them? I can't imagine the croc being very happy about being dizzy all the time.

To be honest I think they'd like being shot even less.

Like many hardcore geeks

[Zwicky]

I don't use harddrives. I just use crocodiles with magnets stuck to their heads.

(I'll get my coat.)

Re:Like many hardcore geeks

[Canazza]

It's not like anyone will be stealing your servers...

Re:Like many hardcore geeks

[magpie]

How do you get them to spin fast enough?

Re:Like many hardcore geeks

[Anonymous Coward]

I don't use harddrives. I just use crocodiles with magnets stuck to their heads.

(I'll get my coat.)

Ah NAND

"Narly Aligator Neodynium Drive"

Re:Like many hardcore geeks

[dotancohen]

I don't use harddrives. I just use crocodiles with magnets stuck to their heads.

(I'll get my coat.)

There's an Emacs command for that...

Well, my son..

[Jeppe Salvesen]

Is it proven that some specimens stay away from humans while others are unafraid of ut? What's the average lifespan of a croc? And is "stay-away-from-people" a dominant or recessive gene? Is it even a single gene?

"A few decades" is probably a bit optimistic..

But then again, if we don't kill those that get close to humans, we will effectively give the non-shy specimens an advantage. Hmh.

Re:Why?

[dougisfunny]

I assume you believe, though you say someone should shoot him, that he should not be shot. That's the trend here right?

Re:Why the arrogance?

[ssintercept]

maybe you received a backlash because that kind of arrogant attitude towards other living creatures is just sickening and systemic of an unenlightened mind when it comes to the enviroment around you.
remember that as a species you are the new kid on the block.
have some fucking respect.
nite nite...
as for you mods...get bent.

Re:Why?

[Anonymous Coward]

I am the Anonymous Coward you replied to, and I apologize if I misinterpreted you. Please understand that when I hear a question like, "Why not just shoot them?," it's almost always being asked by a callous and willfully ignorant moron.

Pardon my indiscretion if you are, in fact, not such a moron. (If.)

Re:Crocs? In Florida? Yes, actually.

[Anonymous Coward]

The American crocodile is endangered, however, RTFA.

Fixed that for you.

Better crocodiles with magnets

[Jane Q. Public]

than alligators with gun turrets.

Sounds horrible

[Idiomatick]

Why not just dump pollution into their lake? It would have the same effect making them retarded. I don't know how this could be thought of as a solution. If you cut their legs off (just 2) they wont be coming back to the city either. But will we do that? no because its cruel punishment.

Re:Sounds horrible

[quadelirus]

From the article, "The magnets are removed from the crocodile's head when it is released." Not cruel, not punishment, just making sure they don't know how to get back to the residential area where they will probably be shot if the become a nuisance.

Re:Sounds horrible

[Idiomatick]

man, I've never been screwed so bad by not RTFA. Maybe from now on i shoul..... nah that'd be breaking tradition. Thanks for the info though, good to know people arent totally evil.

Re:Crocs? In Florida? Yes, actually.

[Atario]

Read the article?? How can you expect people to actively seek out idle stories, tag them repeatedly with "idleispants", post in the comments saying how idle is stupid and should die and they never read it, and read the article? Be reasonable!

Re:Why?

[troll8901]

Now why not go to bed?

It's afternoon here in Asia, you insensitive clod! Oh, how I miss my bed... (Wait, I'm unemployed.)
Also ... aww, forget it.

Be careful not to get burned!

Memorable Quotes in Slashdot

[troll8901]

Here are the catchy one-liners from this thread alone:

• "Why not just shoot them?"
• "Also, fuck you. :-)"
• "For once, an AC that I can agree with!"
• "Now why not go to bed?"

• "Would you care to volunteer to be the first for this grand experiment?"
• "Great, let's start with you."
• "As for you mods... get bent."

Someone should keep a list of memorable quotes in Slashdot. :-)

Re:Memorable Quotes in Slashdot

[ssintercept]

You are quite right. that would be some choice reading.
after i posted i realized that i had been trolled, and trolled hard.

OUCH!

Re:Memorable Quotes in Slashdot

[Bucc5062]

You just did...keep going. I look forward to the next installment of /.s Funniest Quotes. Who knows, maybe the next great meme will burst forth, like an alien from a cyborg's chest.

Re:Memorable Quotes in Slashdot

[Anonymous Coward]

http://seenonslash.com/

Re:Memorable Quotes in Slashdot

[Anonymous Coward]

>Someone should keep a list of memorable quotes in Slashdot.

Slashdot is my favorite place to go for quotes I dump into a random one or two liner generated on my web page. The diversity, complexity, humor, and insight of these quotes boggles my mind, which I like sharing with all my visitors.

Re:Memorable Quotes in Slashdot

[troll8901]

That's different. Slashdot quotes make sense only when read in the context of the comments.

Also, what's your Slashdot name and your web page?

Re:Memorable Quotes in Slashdot

[Clandestine_Blaze]

Great, so now those of us browsing on +5 Funny have no reason to come to /. any longer!

Re:Memorable Quotes in Slashdot

[JoJo's883]

"Slashdot quotes" AND "make sense" in one sentence... You got balls that's for sure! Oh yeah, and in the spirit of the day "Also, fuck you. :-)"

Re:Memorable Quotes in Slashdot

[ElderKorean]

Someone should keep a list of memorable quotes in Slashdot. :-)

Well there is always SeenOnSlash

Re:Memorable Quotes in Slashdot

[Anonymous Coward]

You called?

Re:Memorable Quotes in Slashdot

[lavaface]

here's some stuff I've chuckled at in the past: http://www.google.com/notebook/public/11738854246952505999/BDQ4fSgoQ1ejknvoh

Aren't you glad...

[troll8901]

Not trying to troll here, but why not just shoot them?

Aren't you glad you're not the guy above who asked the same question?

Re:Why?

[delvsional]

Actually you can't shoot them because they're protected. There are only about 2000 of them in south Florida.

Re:Why?

[GreenTech11]

All hail our anonymous logical overlord

Re:Why?

[RMH101]

Can we adopt the:
4) Also, fuck you
as our new group meme?

God Help Us All If This Becomes a /. Meme

[Quothz]

Step 1: Tape magnets to crocodile heads.

Step 2: ???

Step 3: Profit!

Step 4: Also, Fuck you.

I don't want a croc magnet

[Barsteward]

I want a babe magnet......

Re:Why?

[Xest]

"What makes you think for a second that I was advocating they be shot?"

I'd wager a bet it has something to do with the first question you asked, the one that went like this:

"Why not just shoot them?"

But regardless I shall answer the question. For the same reason we can't just shoot people like you - many of us realise the value of life in even the most simple life forms.

Oh and:

"PS: Please don't swear, it serves little purpose but to hurt people's feelings."

Yes, I think that's generally the idea when someone says "Fuck you". Please note, if swearing offends you then the internet may not be the best place for you.

Snort

[dugeen]

"unfortunately the crocs have started to collect huge amounts of take-out menus and child artwork" Faulty premise. Fridge magnets work because they stick to the fridge door. Crocodiles are not made of ferrous metal so the magnets wouldn't stick to the crocs themselves, and the menus and artwork could not be held between croc and magnet in the way envisaged by the joke.

Re:Snort

[Yewbert]

Right. But it does explain why, or at least partly *how*, there's a croc on my fridge door now.

Re:Snort

[Anonymous Coward]

Too true.

The far greater risk is that these magnetized crocodiles will now have an affinity for, and start collecting on, refrigerator doors.

Until this situation is resovled, I urge all Floridians to take appropriate precautions: take your .357 magnum with you on your midnight refrigerator raids.

Croc shield

[Iffie]

So does a magnetic field deter them, so you can set up a magnetic perimeter around your garden opond and they will not want to come out?

Re:Why?

[Anonymous Coward]

it serves little purpose but to hurt people's feelings.

that's THE purpose you fucking retarded moron.

The stingray plot is revealed

[Smidgin]

What I'd like to know is, whose job is it to put the magnets on?

Clearly the stingrays and crocs are in cahoots.

Umm, that isn't a crocodile

[claytonjr]

Thats a picture of an alligator, with electrical tape on it's head.

Please take notice that crocodiles have long, more narrower shaped heads. Alligators have bigger heads, and tend to be heavier.

Re:Crocs? In Florida? Yes, actually.

[claytonjr]

Yes, there are about ~1000+ crocodiles in FL. However, the article has a picture of an alligator with electrical tape on it's head.

Alligators have larger, fatter heads. While their crocodile kin have smaller, more narrow heads and longer (sometimes) mouths.

Where is the article ?

[Anonymous Coward]

Where is the article ?

Re:Why?

[tiananmen tank man]

>I was asking why not to shoot them, not saying that they should be shot.

I am asking you, "Have you stopped beating your wife?" Not saying that you beat your wife.

And if it *can't* be solved with the hammer...

[Peter Simpson]

...you just need a bigger hammer!

Better Idea

[wilder_card]

Let's relocate the frickin' humans. Crocodiles belong in the Everglades, people don't belong in its drained and sterilized remnants.

Re:Why?

[dotancohen]

The people responsible for shooting the people responsible for shooting the troll, have been shot.

Re:Why?

[dotancohen]

Can we adopt the _____ as our new group meme?

You must be new here.

Re:Why?

[devolutionist]

Why not just shoot them? I can't imagine the croc being very happy about being dizzy all the time. More over how does this stop them from wondering in to town?

I don't see the need to mod this -1. I'm from Florida, and "Why not just shoot them?" was the first thing that popped into my head too until I realized that they were really talking about crocs and not alligators - which unfortunately most people don't realize are very different. There alligator population in Florida is in the millions, but there are only a few thousand crocs. Anyway, I thought it was a valid question that deserved a proper answer, not a "fuck you".

At the same time

[Anonymous Coward]

... the magnets are curing the crocodiles of arthritis in their jaws!

why am i the first to say it?

[circletimessquare]

can you imagine a Beowulf cluster of these?

Re:Why?

[Anonymous Coward]

Most Floridians don't live in cities. We live in sprawling suburbs with a Starbucks on every corner and beautiful retention ponds that alligators and crocs find irresistible since their favorite human provided fast food, pet cats and dogs, are readily available. Apparently Alligators deserve their reputation as survivors since they've been around for millions of years longer than mammals. With the climate getting warmer, you can expect to see them moving north. You can learn more about them close up.

Re:Why?

[Anonymous Coward]

I'm a moron you fucking insensitive clod!

Re:Why?

[SL Baur]

Why not shoot the people of Florida?

Great, let's start with you. PETA fuckwad.

Hey! I'm a D.E.H.T.A's Little P.I.T.A. http://thottbot.com/ach561 assmunch.

Re:Why?

[Aranykai]

Hell no. Also, fuck you.

NOT CROCODILES!!

[saxoholic]

Umm... Florida doesn't have crocodiles. They have alligators. Crocodiles are in Australia. Unless no one told me and Florida is adding crocodiles to their ecosystem.

Re:NOT CROCODILES!!

[necro81]

I thought the same at first, but then I searched around a bit. Plus, a half dozen other posters have pointed out that there are such things as American crocodiles. They are endangered - only about 1200 left in Florida.

How does it feel?

[Anonymous Coward]

To completely totally epically fail? I am curious. It's been a while since I have seen someone put their foot in their mouth on such a grand scale. Can you describe the humiliation you feel in detail?

Re:Why?

[Anonymous Coward]

Hes saying he had asked _why_. It was a question.

Re:Why?

[Anonymous Coward]

I'm an insensitive clod you insensitive clod!

Re:Why?

[ozphx]

Well as an Australian, I often ask the "Why not just shoot them?".

We end up with a bloody Koala problem, where they are overpopulated, and are going to die of starvation. The greenies persuade everyone that the population needs to be reduced. So a cull right?

Hell no. We go in there and neuter them. At several hundred dollars per animal. We knock them out, and cut their nuts off, and stick them back up a tree. All this because they are cute and fluffy.

Of course when it comes to kangaroos, we just shoot them. Guess they didn't evolve to be fluffy and loved by hippies.

These are the same hippies that block the creation of firebreaks... because it destroys the native vegetation. Hows the native vegetation doing now?

FFS. This is why democracy fails - you get raving loonies like this (and our religious net censorship advocate) holding the balance of power.

Yes, Crocs do live in Foorida

[Junior Samples]

Actually, there is a remnant population of less than 1200 in Florida. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Crocodile

Re:Why?

[James_Duncan8181]

1) No. 2) Also, fuck you.

Re:Why?

[kid_oliva]

Why not shoot the people of Florida? I can't imagine people being happy about living in crowded, polluted cities all the time. The population is way too big and alligators, unlike humans, doesn't destroy the environment or to drive other species to extinction. Not to mention that they were there first.

It's called survival of the fittest. Cockroaches were... ah damn it, they'll be here way after we off ourselves. Foiled again by my own argument.
Also, fuck you.

Re:Why?

[atlastiamborn]

hasn't mythbusters already debunked that myth?

Re:Why?

[Anonymous Coward]

If they can't find the town, they can't exactly wander through it, now can they?

Well, if they just weren't so ridiculously averse to stopping and asking for directions.

Men! (and, I guess, crocodiles)

Crocs? They mean Alligators, right?

[Anonymous Coward]

Alligators, AFAIK, live in Florida. I wasn't aware of any crocodile population. And yes, there is a difference.

Re:Why?

[Anonymous Coward]

Yeah, why not just shoot them. Or get sharks with frickin lasers on their heads to shoot them, huh?

Re:Why?

[yukonbob]

Well as an Australian, I often ask the "Why not just shoot them?".

We end up with a bloody Koala problem...

No kidding?
 
-yb

Re:Why?

[Anonymous Coward]

The native vegetation is probably doing just fine, thank you. Wildfires are part of a natural cycle. Furthermore, even if fire were not beneficial to the ecosystem, humans trying to prevent fires usually just leads to one big fire instead of smaller ones spread over time. This is probably NOT good for the vegetation.

So, while I don't really think we should not create firebreaks to save people's lives and property, I do not think it is correct to argue that they benefit the natural vegetation.

Re:Why?

[Anonymous Coward]

1) Propose new Slashdot group meme
2) Get internet famous, just like real life famous
3) ...
4) Also, fuck you

Re:Why?

[RMH101]

...3) Profit!
You keep setting them up...

Create a Magnet Defense Shield!

[sageowl]

So you've got a bunch of crocs running around with magnets on their heads ... why not just mount a perimeter of magnets of the opposite polarity around areas you want to protect? If the field doesn't totally disorient them, that strange pressure against their foreheads impeding their progress towards a nice Fluffy or Todo snack in your backyard might do the trick. But what do I know, I live in California, where we would spend billions researching the problem without doing shit about it. But hey, at least a sudden surge in demand for magnets would stimulate the economy! (I am not a magnet salesman).

In Soviet Russia... Crocodile puts magnet on you!

[Anonymous Coward]

And then YOU are harvested into handbags and luggage.

HA !

Crocs?

[p51d007]

Shouldn't that be alligators? I thought crocs were in South America, and alligators were in Florida?

Re:Crocs?

[mhall119]

We do have crocodiles, though they are pretty rare in Florida, especially compared to alligators.

Re:Crocs?

[indi0144]

South America is almost ALL alligators, maybe you're mistaking Africa and South America, not there yet.

Re:Crocs?

[geekoid]

Yes crocs. Florida has crocs. Look it up.

Re:Why?

[mysticgoat]

I don't know koalas. I do know that neutering and releasing is an effective means of population reduction in some species. The neutered animals compete successfully for mating opportunities and the population's birth rate drops. This can be a more effective and lower cost mode of control than other interventions in some situations. Like if the State has determined that allowing a bunch of hard partying, beer drinking, 4WD driving asshole hunters to screw up the forests is the more costly alternative.

Also, from what I've heard koala meat tastes like cough drops and is inedible. Also, fuck you.

There. I said it.

Re:Why?

[PriceIke]

> We end up with a bloody Koala problem

It's the cutest infestation ever.

Crocs with attached magnets

[$0.02]

Crocs with attached magnets is very good for your feet.

Not Worth It

[Zygamorph]

" What I'd like to know is, whose job is it to put the magnets on?"

Whoever they are they aren't paid enough.

Re:Why?

[avm]

No. Also, fuck you.

soooo ummmm,

[Phizzle]

DO THEY RUN LINUX?! heh heh

Re:soooo ummmm,

[troll8901]

Open Source Crocodiles!

Re:Why?

[HappyHead]

To properly and fully debunk the myth that cockroaches will outlast the human race, you must kill _all_ of the cockroaches, without first killing all of the humans. It would definitely make for an interesting episode.

At some point, it will be...

[csoto]

Mike Rowe's dirty job...

Re:Why?

[atlastiamborn]

yes, but what they did find out (if I recall correctly) was that other insects were more resilient than the cockroaches at least.

Re:Why?

[Anonymous Coward]

Okay, here we go:

1) Attach magnets to alligators
2) ???
3) Profit!!!
4) Also, fuck you

Crocodiles?

[gillbates]

Did someone import them from Africa? AFAIK, only *alligators* are native to Florida.

Re:Why?

[Shakrai]

I do know that neutering and releasing is an effective means of population reduction in some species. The neutered animals compete successfully for mating opportunities and the population's birth rate drops. This can be a more effective and lower cost mode of control than other interventions in some situations

I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that a .22LR round costs less than capturing, neutering and releasing a member of an overpopulated species. What, we can't shoot them because they are cute?

Re:Why?

[Archangel Michael]

It is supposed to be ....

3) ????
4) PROFIT!!!

You insensitive Clod.
Now, get off my lawn.

Re:Why?

[Shakrai]

But regardless I shall answer the question. For the same reason we can't just shoot people like you - many of us realise the value of life in even the most simple life forms.

I sure hope you are a vegan, otherwise this statement is laced with hypocrisy. Are American Alligators endangered? No? Then why isn't hunting an acceptable means of population control? It's acceptable to shoot white-tailed deer that don't attack humans but not acceptable to shoot reptiles that do? I'm confused.

Re:Why?

[Miamicanes]

> Why not just shoot them?

We need every crocodile (and alligator) we can get to help keep the python population under control. ;-)

Why not shoot them?

[Bob Uhl]

Why not just shoot the damned things? Seriously, you can't have an advanced civilisation with deadly megafauna roaming about.

And no, I don't think they should necessarily be hunted to extinction: let them be in wildlife preserves and where man hasn't settled. But wherever there are neighbourhoods, just kill them.

Re:Why?

[JeanPaulBob]

Why not just shoot them? I can't imagine the croc being very happy about being dizzy all the time.

To be honest I think they'd like being shot even less.

Funny, that reminds me of a conversation I was just having yesterday, about using abortion to accomplish "Every child a wanted child".

(Of course, that takes the abortion argument back to the "What is a fetus?" question.)

take-out menus and child artwork?

[Anonymous Coward]

Am I missing something here? As far as I know my take-out menus and child artwork have never been magnetic.

Am I not geeky enough to get this one? Or is slashdot humor really that bad.

appears to be working???

[cts5678]

Brickwall: "So far the magnet program appears to be working, unfortunately the crocs have started to collect huge amounts of take-out menus and child artwork." Was the OP totally kidding around about this, or was there something in the referenced article that mentioned either of these things? I sure didn't see it.

Re:Why?

[indi0144]

um hai, I'm from the 4chan's. Looks like you're trying to implement a meme. By this time yo shluld knaw that you need our seal of approval to do such thing.. brbr.... I've readeen the tread and after consulting with our Anon overlords we're giving you green light for your new meme, make us proud. Also FFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUU

Re:Why?

[NudeAvenger]

not sure if having sex with a handbag is a persuasive enough argument to keep those crocs out of trouble.

Re:Why?

[mysticgoat]

As I tried to point out, the damage that idjits do when let loose in the woods is often going to be much more expensive than a well run catch-sterilize-release program. It isn't the 22LR casings they leave behind; it's the non-biodegradable garbage, the beer cans, and the ruts of their ATVs and motorcycles that cause long term costs.

Now a method of control through hunting that I think would be far superior to ANY other approach would be to parachute hunters into the forests with however much booze, etc, they could carry on their backs, making sure that each hunting party was deposited a few hundred kilometers from any roads or trails, and that there would be no rescue or assistance if they got into trouble. This would cull both the koalas and the surfeit of idjits that are wanting to overrun the land. Those who survived a couple of such hunting trips would, for the most part, have opinions about wildlife management that would be worth listening to. Would-be "hunters" not willing to get on such intimate terms with the ecosystem they want to exploit should just STFU.

I hate subjects

[Anonymous Coward]

In Soviet Russia, crocs shoots you

Re:Why?

[wastedlife]

Why don't we just take you out back, then kill you and rape your corpse for hours? What? I'm not advocating that we do it, just asking _why_. It was a question.

In case you are still having trouble reading, they put the magnets on their head during the relocation to disorient them. Then, when they are brought to their new location, the magnet is removed. Since they were disoriented during the move, they won't be able to find their way back.

Re:Why?

[Anonymous Coward]

"Honestly - if you'd read the article, you'd have had no reason to ask the questions you did."

You must be new here.

Re:Why?

[HappyHead]

And so they shall inherit the earth from the Cockroaches.

Let me be the first to say...

[one_in_a_milli0n]

I, for one, welcome our new magnet-wearing overlords!

Re:Why?

[Anonymous Coward]

No, alligators are not endangered. But for the hundredth fucking time, the story is about American Crocodiles, which are very much endangered. Alligator != Crocodile.

Also, Fuck You.

Re:Why?

[Shakrai]

As I tried to point out, the damage that idjits do when let loose in the woods is often going to be much more expensive than a well run catch-sterilize-release program. It isn't the 22LR casings they leave behind; it's the non-biodegradable garbage, the beer cans, and the ruts of their ATVs and motorcycles that cause long term costs.

Stereotype much, do we?

Re:Why?

[mysticgoat]

Stereotype much, do we?

It goes with my hunting experience. Mostly blacktail deer, occasionally elk, in SW Oregon. I use a .30-06 slide action, left-hand safety, with handloads of fire-formed brass, 165 grain Spitzer tip boat-tails in front of 59 grain Dupont IMR. There is more muzzle flash than I'd like toward sun down, but the combination lets me shoot 3 inch groups at 100 yards and I've been using it for more than 20 years now.

I can do without the beer buddy hunters who come in from the cities and suburbs in their 4WD rigs with their .300 Magnums and other foolishness. They don't pack out what they bring in, and they tear up the landscape because they don't know how to drive their rigs or know where they shouldn't drive them. Their fun costs everyone else a lot of money in damaged roads, increased erosion, and the problems that garbage in the wild causes. Too many of them also mix beer and bullets and shoot when they don't have a clear target.

I'm pretty sure that Australia has the same breed of "hunter" as that. They seem to be all over.

So smart its dumb

[phelix_da_kat]

Its a clever way to misdirect them.. But how often do they come in to towns. Now they can't find anywhere! You might as well shoot them - as its effectively a death sentence. If they aim for a swamp and end up in town... dead. If they aim for their mating grounds and miss.. dead..

This just in...

[ddusza]

"Magnetic alligators leaving the state of Florida in record numbers after becoming attached to the bumpers of out-of-state tourists' cars. This and other stories on the news after tonight's feature presentation of 'Lake Placid'"

Crocs?

[bizitch]

Florida has gators .... not crocs

Answer

[geekoid]

What I'd like to know is, whose job is it to put the magnets on?"

It's Leftys' turn.

Attach magnet with remaining hand.

Re:Why?

[geekoid]

"...doesn't destroy the environment or to drive other species to extinction"

that's not true. They would happily eat a specious into extinction, as would any animal.

it's obvious!

[Cr0vv]

QUOTE: What I'd like to know is, whose job is it to put the magnets on?" Why, ........Crocodile Dundee of course! Cr0vv

Re:Why?

[lorenlal]

How do you know? You ever ask one?

deterrent or an incentive?

[Dare nMc]

absolutely. If you find yourself on the enjoy killing and eating crocks list (count me in), then you'll want more space for them so there is more for all to "harvest". If you hate the sight of dead crocks, death, etc. Then they can no longer pretend you helped the world of crocks by living in peace and moving them out into the country to live out there life in peace and tranquility. Its the same as the vegetarian who won't eat cute animals. IE if everyone quits eating chickens, cows, milk, tomorrow, they will all cease to exist in a few years. Then with no natural fertilizer, so more petroleum fertilizers required (unless you want to fertilize with the bio-sludge from city's)...

Run on water

[Anonymous Coward]

The joy of confronting a ten foot crocodile weighing about 500 lbs. on a popular beach is hard to describe. I did discover that unlike Jesus I can not walk on water.

You made me burst out laughing in the middle of the night, you inconsiderate clod!

Spaking or redundant posts...

[geekoid]

You are wrong, educate yourself.

Australia

[troll8901]

These are the same hippies that block the creation of firebreaks... because it destroys the native vegetation. Hows the native vegetation doing now?

I'm sorry to be reminded of that. I hope these hellish weather blows over soon.

Happy Autumn and soon-to-be-Winter, dear Australian!

How the magnets work....

[refactored]

...you wouldn't go back to a place that swathes your head in duct tape?

Neither would a croc. I mean what's next? Thrown shoes?

Re:Why?

[autophile]

We end up with a bloody Koala problem, where they are overpopulated...We knock them out, and cut their nuts off, and stick them back up a tree. All this because they are cute and fluffy.

Well, yes, and that makes them good for tourism.

Also, fuck you.

I can't wait

[Hellpop]

to start throwing paperclips at their heads! Maybe create a competition or a family activity?

"Look ma! I got a chain of 9 paperclips on mine!"

Re:Why?

[Hellpop]

Why not just shoot him? I'm not saying he should be shot...

I wander into wondering about wondering while I wander into town. I do indeed.

Well that explains....

[NiteShaed]

....what I found on the refrigerator door on my vacation down there last week.

Stupid Stupid Stupid

[Anonymous Coward]

Ok, So the Crocs will be too confused to return to their original location. Great for those residents.

Has anyone realised that the Croc will also be too confused to work out where it lives now, how it locates food and how it finds mates.

Changes are the Croc's will wander around aimlessly possibly into other peoples backyards and probably die a confusing death.

Years of evolution are there for a reason...Changing them in two seconds with a bit of tape and a magnet just seems like a stupid idea. Life is rarely that simple.

So what happens when..

[motherpusbucket]

they try to mate and the poles align to repel each other. PETA will be all over that shit. Think of the baby crocodiles.

Re:Why?

[Anonymous Coward]

The shootings will continue until morale improves

Re:Why?

[SharpFang]

Actually, I suggest the more practical Australian "crocodile bag" approach instead:

Feed them to the crocodiles!

Idiots!

[Mmmack]

Why do people want to live anywhere where crocodiles want to live anyway? Swamps suck.

Re:Why?

[Anonymous Coward]

But if he were to be shot, how far would he go?