Gator’s Near-Miss: Watch This Man Escape the Hungry Beast by a Whisker

Continue reading for our analysis...

Imagine you’re fishing along the swampy shore of a lake or pond. Next, you simply enjoy the peaceful scenery and hope for a big catch. You feel a tug on your line and reel in your prize: a nice-sized fish that will make a delicious meal.

You bend down to pick up your fish from the shore, proud of your accomplishment. But then, out of the corner of your eye, you see something move. In this viral video, a man escapes an alligator by a whisker as it tries to take his fish!

The entire event was captured on a camera from his chest-mounted GoPro. The video shows the man pulling in his fish without any trouble, unaware of the danger lurking nearby. For any fisherman, this is a pretty great day so far! As he reaches for his catch, a large alligator rushes out of the water, snapping its jaws at him.

The man barely manages to dodge the attack, stumbling back and dropping his fish. He lets out a few choice words as he realizes how close he is to becoming gator food.

Watch This Man Escape an Alligator!

What likely happened was the struggle from the man reeling in the fish attracted the attention of the nearby gator. When an alligator senses that an animal is wounded or struggling, it’s like a moth to the flame. As he brought the fish to shore, the gator saw it as the perfect time to strike.

He made his move when he thought that the human was going to take its prize. The man probably wasn’t the target of the alligator, but it was close enough that intentions weren’t all that important!

Remember that in certain parts of the US, it doesn’t matter if you can’t see alligators; just know that there are alligators. Thankfully, the man was able to escape the alligator this time without any issues.

Are Alligator Attacks Against Humans Normal?

Alligator attacks are rare but not unheard of in the United States. This is true, especially in states like Florida, Louisiana, and South Carolina.

According to government sources, the average annual number of alligator attacks in the US is about 10, and the average number of fatalities is about 1. However, in 2022, there were four fatal alligator attacks reported, which is an unusually high number.

Most alligator attacks occur when people provoke, feed, or approach them too closely. They may also occur when people enter their habitat unaware of their presence. Compared to other animal-related fatalities, such as venomous stings or dog bites, the risk of death by alligators is very low.

How Big Do Alligators Get?

Alligators are an iconic, ancient species that have been around for millions of years. They come in a variety of sizes, with adult males typically reaching up to 11 feet in length and females being slightly smaller.

Alligators living in the southern United States, such as in Louisiana, Georgia, and Florida, tend to be larger than those living further north. This is due to the warmer temperatures and abundant food sources in these areas.

In addition to their natural environment, alligators’ size can also be affected by their access to food. Alligators that are well-fed tend to be larger, as they are able to grow faster and reach their full size. This is why alligators in captivity often reach larger sizes than their wild counterparts.

The world’s largest alligator was reportedly found in Louisiana, measuring in at a staggering 19 feet 2 inches. It weighed in at a whopping 1,011.5 pounds and was estimated to be over 100 years old. This record-breaking alligator was captured in 1890, and its hide is now on display at the Chicago Field Museum.