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[SpiralDimentia]

As the title somewhat implies, I need to catch an alligator. My current embark is situated where three rivers meet. Well, where one waterfalls into two lower ones. In one of the lower ones, I saw an alligator once. My question is, what's the best method in catching the thing, and hopefully a second? I don't see him now, but I assume that doesn't mean he won't come back. My only idea was to line the entire river with cage traps, but I don't have that many cages. Or mechanisms.

[Pie Maker]

You must lure the alligator out of the river first, then lead it into a cage trap. I guess that the best way to ensure this is by lining the entire river with cage traps, but that sounds a little extreme. Rather, I would wait until the alligator came back, quickly order cage traps to be built close, but not too close, to it and then lure it into one (bonus points if you use a noble as bait). Do this by ordering something built, stationing a military squad, etc at the desired location. You could also chain something/someone next to the river, surround it with cage traps and wait for the alligator to arrive. Sadly, using cats won't work since they are [AT_PEACE_WITH_WILDLIFE].

[SpiralDimentia]

What about dogs? I ordered a breeding pair from the dwarven caravan, and they should be showing up within a couple months.

[Pie Maker]

What about dogs? I ordered a breeding pair from the dwarven caravan, and they should be showing up within a couple months.

Yes, dogs, along with just about every other common domestic animal, are not at peace with wildlife, and so will attack alligators and vice-versa. Note that for the alligator to attack the dog, (I think) it must be within its line of sight.

[Garath]

give the dog its own cabin with fortifications as walls, put a few cage traps in an entrance corridor and gators (and goblins) will path to the dog (they can see it after all).

[SpiralDimentia]

Little update.. Considering where my fortress is, I've got a small, safe spot from where I can actually have a fisherdwarf do his thing. So now I have a legendary fisherdwarf. As a side effect, I now occasionally get the message ''There is nothing to catch in the river.'' or something similar.. does this mean I have somehow overfshed and now my precious gators will never come back? =[

[Garath]

gators and other large fish are completely independent of fishing labor. A fisher dwarf fishes for vermin fish. When you get that message it just means he currently didn't catch anything at that part of the river. In the future maybe again, though not in the far future. In the end all vermin fish will be depleted. This still doesn't limit the appearance of large water creatures, those function the same as all other groups of large creatures

[Matoro]

Make a one-dwarf squad. Preferably with a fast dwarf. We'll call him Urist McAlligatorTamer in this example.

Build a one-tile wide corridor from walls, like this:

| = wall . = ground c = cage trap u = Urist McAlligatorTamer

Code: [Select]

7777777777
7777777777
......|.u.|.....
......||.||....
.......|.|.....
.......|c|....
First, order Urist McAlligatorTamer to move to spot I marked to the diagram (when there is an alligator swimming). Alligator will probably attack. Alligator will make a dash towards the urist. Disband the squad, Urist McAlligatorTamer will suddenly become a civilian and run away. He can run to only one direction, south. Alligator will chase him. Urist will run safely over the cage trap. The following alligator will be caged.

Or at least this is how it works in my head. I haven't tested it.