Dinosaur-Sized Alligator Strolls Through Florida Neighborhood on Its Evening Walk

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Written by Sharon Parry

Updated: November 15, 2023

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© Ernie Hounshell/Shutterstock.com

All in a day’s work for the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office! In this video, we see an enormous alligator casually stroll through a neighborhood in Venice, Florida as if they were one of the community. Our friendly alligator crosses lawns and front paths and wanders down the road, in no hurry whatsoever, seemingly unaware of the police escort. This amazing creature even stops to take a break on one front lawn. Walking on little legs is tiring you know!

This extraordinary footage was captured by a member of the Sheriff’s Department who had to warn residents around Harrington Lake that an alligator was heading for an Easter holiday swim. At the end of the film, we see the alligator slip into the water and disappear from view.

Alligators in the United States

alligator

The American alligator in the below video is thought to be around 10 feet long. Adult males can grow up to 15 feet long.

©Svetlana Foote/Shutterstock.com

This alligator was estimated to be about 10 feet in length and was seen in Florida. American alligators can run at up to 15 mph on land, making them one of the fastest large reptiles on earth, but this one was taking it easy!

Locally known as gators, these guys can be huge! Male adults can be up to 15 feet long. As you can see in this video, alligators have thick muscular tails that propel them efficiently through the water and short, stocky legs. Their toes are webbed which helps them to swim and stops them from sinking on muddy riverbanks. Moving on land is not so easy and they often crawl or slide along the slippery river banks on their bellies.

Alligator Lifespan in Florida

alligator with its mouth hanging open

Alligators can live up to 50 years in the wild. They can succumb to arthritis and dental problems as they age.

©Deborah Ferrin/Shutterstock.com

Alligators are extremely common in Florida’s waterways. From the murky swamps to the clear springs, these ancient reptiles have been around for millions of years. Over time, they have adapted to survive a wide range of different habitats.

The lifespan of an alligator can vary depending on a few different factors. These factors include genetics, diet, and habitat quality. On average, alligators can live up to 50 years in the wild. Although, some have been reported to have aged even longer at a staggering 70 or 80 years.

While an alligator can live a long life under the right circumstances, young alligators are much more susceptible to danger, as alligators age, their growth begins to slow down and they become less active. In fact, older alligators are less likely to hunt for prey and may spend more time basking in the sun to conserve energy. Alligators can succumb to arthritis and dental problems.

Hunting Alligators

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American alligators prefer to live near water and its food sources.

©Jim Schwabel/Shutterstock.com

It’s estimated that there are around 1.3 million alligators in Florida (second only to Louisiana) and they like to live near water. They are a carnivore and a solitary predator except when they are young and may hunt in groups.

Alligators hunt fish, birds, and small mammals. However, larger adult gators will tackle larger prey including other alligators, deer, panthers, and bears. Some people claim that they will also attack domestic pets. Their multiple stomachs allow them to grind up and then digest food in acid.

The sheriff gave a timely warning to people in the area. Even though gators do not view us as prey, they will attack humans if they see us as a threat. Alligator attacks on humans have been recorded. Luckily, the Easter outing in this video passed without incident!


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About the Author

Dr Sharon Parry is a writer at A-Z animals where her primary focus is on dogs, animal behavior, and research. Sharon holds a PhD from Leeds University, UK which she earned in 1998 and has been working as a science writer for the last 15 years. A resident of Wales, UK, Sharon loves taking care of her spaniel named Dexter and hiking around coastlines and mountains.

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