[Girlfriendi]

I noticed that some homes in the Villages back up to wildlife preserves. Can someone tell me what kind of wildlife we can expect to have in our backyard if we choose one of these homes? We have a cute pup that we don't want eaten by an alligator!

There are gators,snake,coyotes,spiders fire ants .All of which are hazardous to dogs.I have a dog but she's never off leash unless we're at a dog park.

[nONIE]

and bobcats!

We back up to a natural preserve and the beauty is incredible. But we never let our pooches out without us being right there with them.

[jblum8156]

and don't forget those toads that are poisonous if a dog bites the toad. Yechh!

[Pturner]

Backing up to a wildlife preserve sounds wonderful. Just stay with your dog and keep him/her on a leash and enjoy the spendor!

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by Girlfriendi

I noticed that some homes in the Villages back up to wildlife preserves. Can someone tell me what kind of wildlife we can expect to have in our backyard if we choose one of these homes? We have a cute pup that we don't want eaten by an alligator!

There are a few preserve areas without water, e.g., there is an owl preserve. However if you back on a wildlife preserve with water, or even a golf course with ponds, please be with your pup at all times.

I've been told by native Floridians "where there's water, there's gators". I am totally paranoid about gators. Dogs must be leashed in The Villages but can run free and play at the dog parks.

[Rag Bagger]

Poisones snakes may be the most dangerous for your dog. Your dog will be curious and will attempt to mess with most snakes. Out west our friends actually taught their dog to get away from Rattle snakes. It is one of the few snakes that gives a warning before bitting.

[nONIE]

I almost forgot,

There are very strange sounds comming from a wildlife preserve after dark and in the middle of the night. The sand cranes are very loud and talk all night long, and I could have sworn I heard a wild boar snorting out there but I found out that it was only a pig frog. (really!)

Please dont let all this scare you away from buying on a preserve, as long as you are very cautious with your pets, the tranquility and beauty cant be beat!!!

[otherbruddaDarrell]

If you have a small breed of dog you will have to be watching out for Eagle,Hawks and other predator birds. The birds will carry off a small dog or cat and then have them for lunch.

[Girlfriendi]

WOW...you are all so nice to answer my questions. I can't wait to meet you!

Yes, I have a little dog...a 6 month old Havanese...and I only walk him on a leash here so he should fit right in down there.

I see you have buffalo in some of the photos...are they located in the Villages and are there any houses that have them wandering around in the fields in back of the houses? The babies are really cute!

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by Girlfriendi

WOW...you are all so nice to answer my questions. I can't wait to meet you!

Yes, I have a little dog...a 6 month old Havanese...and I only walk him on a leash here so he should fit right in down there.

I see you have buffalo in some of the photos...are they located in the Villages and are there any houses that have them wandering around in the fields in back of the houses? The babies are really cute!

Yipster, you've hit on a very sore topic.

Someone spirited all our buffalo away when we weren't looking. It turns out they weren't really our buffalo at all. And the Developer wanted to use the space (which is his right) for building.

I hope you like cows.

[chuckinca]

Also an issue with people trying to pet the Buffs which could have had a tragic result.

.

[Girlfriendi]

Sorry about the buffalo...cows are nice...actually animals in general are pretty cool

[redwitch]

Well, here's your pic of "our" buffalo. Took it right after I heard they were going to be taken away. Still breaks my heart cause I was one of those who actually sat and watched them for hours -- especially when I couldn't sleep.

Actually, the three biggest worries you have for wildlife that will harm a very small dog are snakes (and that's a very rare occurrence) and foxes and coyotes (much more common occurrences). The gators here are pretty well fed, so really aren't a danger except during mating season -- when they frisky, watch out! Snakes really do prefer to stay away from humans when possible.

I have a friend who lives by one of the ponds (not really a reserve but close). She's out every evening feeding the ducks. She's seen sand cranes, egrets, lots and lots of ducks and other birds. She's heard the frogs and heard the frogs and then she's heard the frogs some more. She's seen a couple of black racer snakes and one garter (both are harmless). There was a gator that lived in her pond for a short while but, when the water got higher, it moved out of her pond through the pipes and back to wherever it originally lived (it was presumed, anyway). Her cats come out with her to feed the ducks. They frequently go right to the edge of the water -- one even fell in once. The wet cat incident was the worse thing that has happened, unless you count the ducks chasing the cats away from their nightly snack as hazardous.

[JohnN]

the buffalo are all now chopped steaks at Publix, The Villages got rid of 'em after some idiot sued them.. now they're cows