Quick Take
- A massive alligator and an unsuspecting doe share the same midnight trail, with only one of them aware that the other is there. See the setup →
- Alligators are built to hunt prey far larger than most people realize, and a deer falls well within their range. See what gators hunt →
- One wrong step in any direction would have ended this doe's night very differently. See the doe's escape →
Taking a trip in the woods is not something everyone can stomach due to the number of predators that roam around. Now, take that a step further and set the clock to midnight; you will see even fewer people bold enough to venture into the woods!
However, for animals, they have no choice. They live in the wild and the woods, and when they need to hunt or forage for food, they have no choice but to be brave and try it out. For this unsuspecting doe, she traveled out deep in the woods for food. But she was nearly discovered by a predator also looking for prey.
Midnight Encounter
This next TikTok video takes us to the channel Sportsman’s Box. This channel is dedicated to providing a variety of videos on preparation for hunters and anglers. This TikTok channel shares videos of animals such as deer, bears, fish, and turkeys, to name a few.
The description of this video comically states, “Watch your step, doe!” And for good reason — this deer almost took a step in the wrong direction.
Deer Vs. Alligator
At the start of this short TikTok video, we see a massive alligator in the foreground of the trail camera footage. It is clearly the dead of night when the trail camera captures this enormous gator.
Suddenly, just a few feet from this large alligator, a deer emerges from the woods. She takes a moment to look around. It’s as if she is thinking, “Which way should I go?” Thankfully, she decided to watch her step carefully and turned, walking back the other way.
If we pause the video at seven seconds, we can see this alligator was alerted to a presence behind him. We hear him grunt and slowly begin turning his body. Luckily for this doe, she got away from the gator.
What do Alligators Eat?
Alligators are carnivores.
©Orhan Cam/Shutterstock.com
American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) are carnivorous reptiles, which means that these beasts will eat meat. These reptiles are large and can weigh up to 800 pounds and reach 15 feet in length. So, they are capable of hunting, catching, and killing larger prey.
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, they state that “Alligators are opportunistic feeders. Their diets include prey species that are abundant and easily accessible.”
Alligators like to feast on fish, snakes, turtles, deer, Florida panthers, black bears, and even small alligators. Had this alligator been alerted sooner to the deer’s presence, it would have had the strength to take her down.
