Watch an Alligator Sneak Up on a Florida Fisherman Showing Off His Catch

Key Points:

• The below video shows a fisherman with catch in hand in Florida’s Everglades completely unaware that an alligator is swimming up behind him. When he sees the gator, he tosses it the fish.
• Alligators are large, semi-aquatic reptiles that are native to the southeastern United States. They can grow up to 14 feet in length and weigh over 1,000 pounds.
• They have powerful jaws capable of crushing shells and bones, allowing them to consume a wide range of prey, from smaller invertebrates to larger mammals.

The scene opens with a proud Florida fisherman showing off his catch. The boat’s zipping down the Everglades; it’s a picture-perfect sunny moment.

The young man’s smiling ear to ear with his catch in hand. But he doesn’t know that a giant, hungry alligator is swimming up behind him! Spoiler alert: at the end of the video, the alligator winds up getting the fish — but not in the way you think!

Check Out the Action in the Video Below

Alligators are a fascinating species! They have powerful jaws capable of crushing shells and bones, allowing them to feast on a wide variety of prey. Their diets range from smaller invertebrates to larger mammals.

The fisherman in this video was in a sharing mood. Before the alligator can strike, he throws the fish into the water. As one video comment reads, “He sacrificed his fish to the gator gods.”

Alligators demonstrate remarkable adaptation by showing opportunistic feeding behavior. And the gator in this video isn’t any different. It’s taking advantage of whatever food sources present themselves in its environment. In this case, it’s a generous fisherman, or a scared one, depending on how you look at it.

Do Alligators Hunt People?

Was the fisherman in this video in any real danger? Could the alligator have come up on the boat and eaten the fish and the fisherman? It’s possible but not likely.

Despite their powerful jaws and opportunistic feeding habits, alligators rarely hunt people. While they have certainly been known to attack humans, it is rare. Studies show that alligators are responsible for less than 6% of fatal attacks on humans. This low rate indicates that they usually avoid confrontation with us whenever possible.

As opportunistic feeders, alligators like to be lazy. They don’t swim long distances in search of food, preferring to remain close to where they live and feed on whatever comes their way. This should put your mind at ease since it is unlikely that an alligator will ever actively go after you!

What to Do If You See an Alligator

What’s the big mistake the fisherman makes in this video? Feeding a wild alligator. Throwing the fish to the hungry alligator was fun but not wise. The truth is feeding alligators in the wild is never a good idea.

What should you do if you see an alligator? First, never approach or attempt to feed them. Feeding an alligator may cause them to associate humans with food and become more aggressive in the future.

When you see an alligator, respect its space and back away slowly. If the alligator hisses or charges in a threatening manner, stop moving. Don’t run — this can trigger an instinctual pursuit response in the alligator. Instead, stand still and wait for it to move away from you.

Is It Normal for Alligators to Steal Prey?

Alligators are apex predators that occupy a unique niche in their ecosystems. They are opportunistic feeders and will eat anything they can catch, from fish and turtles to birds and mammals. But is it normal for alligators to steal prey from other animals? The answer is yes, and here’s why.

Alligators are often observed stealing prey from other animals, such as birds, otters, and even other alligators. This behavior is known as kleptoparasitism, and it’s not uncommon in the animal kingdom. Essentially, kleptoparasitism occurs when an animal steals food from another animal, rather than hunting or foraging for it itself.

In the case of alligators, they may steal prey from other animals for a variety of reasons. For one, it’s a way to conserve energy. By stealing food from another animal, the alligator doesn’t have to expend as much energy hunting or foraging for its own food.

Additionally, stealing prey may be a way for alligators to take advantage of the hunting skills of other animals. For example, an alligator may steal a fish that a heron has caught, rather than expend the energy to catch the fish itself.

Alligators in Florida

The reptile in this video was likely an American alligator. Florida has American alligators and American crocodiles. In 1987, the American alligator took the title of the official reptile of Florida. It makes sense, too, considering there are so many of them swimming around.

These hungry reptiles are most commonly found in Florida and the southeastern United States. In addition to living in freshwater environments, they also inhabit brackish waters near shorelines and canals.

Visiting the Everglades

If you ever get a chance to make your way to the Everglades, you’re destined to spot a gator in the wild. An estimated 1.5 million American alligators live in Florida alone, with more than 200,000 calling the Florida Everglades home. The growing population of alligators and crocodiles gives hope that the Everglades is restoring itself.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © iStock.com/tobiasfrei