Watch Beachgoers Get Scared Out of the Water by An Alligator… Yes, an Alligator!

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Alligators are found in many places all around the United States. Most of us would expect to find them in places such as lakes, swamps, and marshes to name a few. And for those of us who live in states where alligators are frequent in numbers, we would expect even to see them in odd places like our backyards or trying to cross the street. However, where this alligator in the video posted below was found, stunned even the most seasoned of Floridians. 

Alligator Sighting at the Beach

On Monday, October 30, 2023, beachgoers were at Hillsboro Beach in Florida when they saw an alligator wash up on shore. Yes, an alligator!

The newscaster in the video posted at the top of this blog post starts by saying that many beachgoers expect to see a variety of things at the beach, but an alligator is not one of them. But, sure enough, an alligator that was approximately six feet washed up on shore. 

Those who live along Hillsboro Beach reported their shock. “First time I’ve ever seen anything like this”; “I’ve never seen an alligator on the beach before”; “It was a spectacle.” 

The Florida Fish and Wildlife was called to come and wrangle this situation. And in the video posted above, we see several of the workers that are quite literally fighting to get this alligator captured safely. 

This alligator’s frustration was evident. “Don’t think this alligator is going to come after you for food,” Zoo Miami’s Ron Magill stated. “He’s probably trying to figure out how to get back to fresh water.” The FWC was able to safely load this alligator up, on a gator the newscaster comically adds. 

And while alligators can tolerate saltwater, they live in freshwater. The FWC quotes, “They prefer freshwater lakes and slow-moving rivers and their associated wetlands, but they also can be found in brackish water habitats and rarely in salt water.” 

How Many Alligators Live in Florida?

Florida is distinctively known for having white-tailed deer and black deer. However, Florida most famously is home to many alligators. It seems like every day Floridians are finding alligators in odd places, like beaches. 

The American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) of the family Alligatoridae is found throughout North America and Asia. Gators are most abundant in Louisiana, with more than two million alligators. Florida is the second state with the most alligators, with over one million. 

With this vast population residing in the state of Florida alone, it is no wonder that they are found quite literally everywhere, even the beach!