So are gators dangerous, or is the press just suddenly noticing them like they did with the Great Shark Attack frenzy a few years ago? Michael Yon thinks perhaps it's a bit of both:

When people eat gators, it never seems to make the news. But lately gators have killed three people, so it’s big in the news.

The State of Florida—where tourism is a multi-billion dollar industry—is quick to say that only 17 people have been killed by gators in Florida during the last 58 years. I am suspicious of this number, which somehow never seems to change despite the occasional story about man-eating gators. Media around the world have regurgitated the figure faithfully, but I have suspected for many years that someone is hiding the true body count. Before I get a wave of angry communiqués, or worse, whispers from the knowing who have proof of the “hidden-killer-gator-conspiracy,” I’ll admit the body count is not worth more than another minute on it, but I suspect –without substantiation –that my favorite state, Florida, pegs the body count low to avoid flushing the tourists. The State probably already has a press release with an excuse ready for the day when some pesky journalist figures out the real body count. After all, we are talking about gators; the attacks flash in the news and disappear.

Includes a detailed account of when the author got in a tangle with a 12 foot male!

Long ago, we used to live in Merrit Island Florida, and my parents have several stories of various alligator encounters. The one I remember is about a big male who used to terrorize the NASA parking lots, chewing off car tires for no reason anyone could figure out. Eventually he got overly ambitious and tried to chew the tire off a moving bus, thereby becoming an ex-alligator.

At least, that's the story. Always funny, sometimes even true!