Everything is Out to Get You

WARNING: some dark humor and icky details.

Occasionally there are a few benefits to living in the Great Frozen North, and here is a story that reminds me of them.

Family of the victim of a deadly alligator attack in Florida are suing the HOA for 7 million dollars for failing to keep the property clear of harmful wildlife.

This story raises questions. 

Given that alligators are native to the area and go pretty much wherever they want to go, how would the HOA go about "keeping the property clear of harmful wildlife"?  Also, where does one draw the line?  Many animals can be harmful if provoked, and some can be harmful even if not provoked. 

In my neck of the woods we have numerous furry critters that can carry rabies (in fact you should assume any raccoon you see is carrying the virus, and they're all over the place).  Rabid animals attack when they're in the final stages of the disease - it's how the virus is spread.  One of my neighbors had their garage ransacked by a raccoon that was almost certainly in the final stage of rabies.  If someone is bitten by an infected animal, should the association be liable?

This reminds me of a dispute that erupted on a social media site a couple years ago,.  Some homeowners in a nearby HOA were outraged over their board's plan to have a family of foxes removed from the community, because the homeowners LOVED their foxes and the kids liked to feed them - and other homeowners were all "are you people NUTS?!"  Full disclosure: I'm in the "are you people nuts" camp.  I had visions of some little kid feeding the "puppies" and getting scratched.  Mom ignores the scratch because kids are always getting banged up, and two months later kiddo is showing the flu-like symptoms that are often the first sign of a rabies infection.  At this stage the disease is almost 100% fatal, and it's a horrible death.  So anyway, props to that board for being responsible.

And then there are the insects.  Mosquitos carry all sorts of harmful diseases, and they'll hang out in any bit of standing water.  Dengue and malaria are making inroads in various parts of the US.  If someone is bitten and catches West Nile virus or other unpleasant disease, is the HOA liable for not clearing out every bit of standing water?  I got bitten by a tick about a year and a half ago, and I scampered to the local urgent care for antibiotics when I sprouted the telltale bull's eye rash (Lyme disease, in case you're curious).  Is the condo association on the hook because ticks are everywhere?

OK, alligators are a whole 'nother issue, and this isn't the Cootie Corner blog.

But still, an HOA can clear the property of alligators, and another one may stroll in right afterwards.  (I believe they are territorial, and clearing space for them is pretty much putting up a welcome sign.)  In other words, even the most diligent maintenance won't totally prevent bad things from happening.  It's why folks in Florida keep alert when they're outdoors.  Me, I'd be staying the heck indoors, which kinda defeats the purpose of living in Florida.  

But I'm living in the Great Frozen North, gotta love it, and our really hazardous wildlife is limited to venomous snakes, coyotes, random bears, and people who don't know how to drive on snow and ice.  And if the wildlife doesn't get us, lawsuits against the association we're living in can really do a number on our finances.