Florida ranks extremely high on danger scale

It was during one of my first visits to Florida, back in the late 1960s, that I discovered how dangerous this state can be.

I was only about 12, and my little sister was several years younger.

The two of us were hiking in Ocala National Forest near Alexander Springs, where our parents and family had gone to picnic.

Off the forest path, we were wading in a creek when we saw the sign.

I can't remember the exact wording, but it went something like this:

"Warning! Danger from alligators, poisonous snakes, disease-carrying mosquitoes, quicksand, sharks, riptides, wild pigs, skin rashes, sinkholes, lightning, ticks, leeches, stinging jellyfish, killer algae, flash floods, biting flies, knife-wielding maniacs, heat stroke, rabid raccoons, mad dogs and feral cats."

I think there was more to the list, but we didn't hang around to finish reading it.

We jumped out of that creek and ran screaming back to the picnic area and relative safety.

Being from Indiana, we weren't equipped to face all the dangers Florida offered.

Neither, I suggest, are most people who visit Florida.

A healthy respect of Mother Nature is key to survival here.

But far too many newcomers and visitors act like everything in Florida is part of a family theme park.

It's not. Real-life Florida can be deadly.

In Indiana, the only wildlife I remember encountering were deer, rabbits, squirrels and the occasional harmless corn snake.

No alligators, no coral snakes, no stinging jellyfish.

Although the sight of a funnel cloud might make your heart race in Indiana, it was almost unimaginable that lightning might strike you dead or the earth might open up and swallow you.

Nonswimmers might drown in an Indiana lake, but rip currents wouldn't pull you under. Bass might nip your toes, but sharks wouldn't bite off your feet.

And gators were toothy curios kept in zoos.

I've lived here full time for more than 30 years, but it wasn't until a few years ago that I learned South Florida also has a sizable crocodile population.

It doesn't matter if it is a gator or a croc, it is best to avoid contact with really big reptiles.

That is especially true during mating season, and especially in the water that is their home turf.

As more people -- residents and visitors alike -- push into Florida, the more likely Mother Nature will push back.

And she has some awesome weapons of destruction.

That's not fair to visitors from other states where the environment is more benign.

Maybe the solution is for states to be rated for danger and violence, along the lines of movie ratings for sex.

Places such as Indiana and Ohio would be G-rated, but Florida would have to receive an R.

Visitors to Florida would then at least be given fair warning that, outside the comfy environs of a family theme park, they had better watch out.

Refunds are not available, even for innocent mistakes.

Ramsey Campbell can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or 352-742-5923