Quick Take
- An open-mouthed alligator looks like a threat, yet the real reason it's holding its jaws wide open might surprise you. See why mouths open →
- That calm, motionless alligator isn't a green light to get closer. Here's what wildlife officials say can happen in an instant. See the safety warning →
- Florida's alligator population is bigger than most people realize, which helps explain why a bike path encounter isn't as rare as it seems.
- The cyclists thought they were safe, but one detail in the video reveals exactly how close is too close. Watch the moment →
Seeing a large alligator beside a bike path is the kind of thing that tends to stop people in their tracks. In the video below, a group of cyclists does exactly that. Instead of simply riding past, several of them stop near the animal long enough to pose for a photo. The alligator barely seems interested, but getting that close to a wild alligator is still not something wildlife officials recommend.
The Facebook clip was shared by Everglades Holiday Park, a South Florida attraction known for Everglades airboat tours and alligator-related wildlife content. The repost itself does not establish exactly where the footage was recorded, so it is safest not to assume that the encounter happened in Florida.
Watch the Close Encounter Below
The Group Gets Much Closer Than Wildlife Officials Recommend
As the video begins, several people wearing bike helmets have stopped on a path beside a large alligator. Rather than immediately moving along, members of the group stand nearby and appear to pose for a picture while the alligator remains on the ground with its mouth open.
If this encounter did happen in Florida, seeing an alligator would hardly be unusual. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the state has an estimated 1.3 million alligators of all sizes. They are found in all 67 Florida counties and can inhabit freshwater lakes, ponds, swamps, slow-moving rivers, and other suitable wetlands.
What is unusual is how comfortable the group appears to be standing near such a large wild animal. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission advises people to keep a safe distance from alligators and never feed or approach them. An alligator that looks calm can still react quickly if it feels threatened, cornered, or disturbed.
Why Do Alligators Leave Their Mouths Open?
Basking alligators sometimes rest with their mouths open to help regulate body temperature.
©DimaSid/Shutterstock.com
The American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) has between 74 and 80 teeth in its mouth at a time. Those teeth are continually replaced as they wear down or are lost. An open mouth can certainly look intimidating, but a basking alligator holding its jaws open is not automatically displaying aggression.
Texas Parks and Wildlife explains that basking alligators are sometimes seen with their mouths open as a way to cool themselves. Alligators do not pant or sweat the way many mammals regulate heat, so sitting with the mouth open can help with thermoregulation.
That does not mean it is safe to walk up to one. Wildlife officials warn that alligators are fast, powerful animals that can defend themselves when they feel threatened or cornered. Hissing, charging, or other defensive behavior is a clear sign that a person is too close, but the better strategy is not to wait for a warning. If you encounter an alligator in the wild, give it plenty of room and enjoy the photo from a much safer distance than the people in this video did.
