Capt Jack,
I remember hearing about something similar to Lavon's deal a couple years ago, seems like they were able to at least recover the tracking collar, but that the dog was tucked back under the bank.
Russ,
Do the gators actually hibernate, or do they just lay low when it is cold out? I have heard that you don't have to worry about rattlesnakes in the winter too, but I have also killed a 5' rattler on cool new years eve in south Texas
What are the chances of coming across a gator on a warm day in a cool month?