Watch This Daring Man Grab a Hissing Alligator and Launch It Into a Lake

Written by Sharon Parry
Updated: October 22, 2023
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This is probably not the most professional alligator removal you will ever see, but it seems to be effective. In this short clip, you can make out a small alligator’s mouth which is wide open. A little later, it becomes obvious that the gator is being carried – grasped at the back of the neck. Then it is unceremoniously hurled into a lake!

Watch The Alligator Action Below

Alligators on the Prowl

alligator with butterfly chilling on its snout

Alligators would prefer to avoid man-made structures.

©iStock.com/Maryna Rayimova

The relationship between humans and alligators is not always a happy one. The exact location of this footage is not known, but alligators are found in the United States, Mexico, and China. The alligators in the US are, as you may have guessed, called the American Alligator. They are found in ten US states, but the highest numbers are in Florida and Louisiana, which each has over a million alligators. They can grow to weigh up to 800 pounds and reach 15 feet in length. Alligators have to live in and near water, so they prefer marsh and swampland.

Whilst alligators tend to be smaller than crocodiles, they are still fearsome predators. Their short, stocky legs can propel them on land at up to 15 mph, and they have a lot of very sharp teeth and strong jaws. Their main diet is made up of fish, small mammals, and birds, but larger gators will have a go at deer and even black bears!

Do Alligators Normally Live Near Humans?

Large menacing American alligator Alligator mississippiensis in the wetland and marsh at the Myakka River State Park in Sarasota, Florida, USA

American alligators are apex predators in their ecosystems.

©SunflowerMomma/Shutterstock.com

As human populations grow, we are encroaching on territory that was previously the domain of these magnificent creatures. This alligator was clearly somewhere that the human cameraman did not want it to be. You are generally advised to call in the experts if you find an alligator in your neighborhood, but this person clearly decided to take matters into their own hands.

Despite a large number of reports of alligators in towns and cities, this is probably not where an alligator actually wants to live! Research has shown that they prefer to avoid man-made structures if they can. However, we may be creating an environment preferred by smaller alligators. Large adults are scary! So, they are soon targeted for removal.

Smaller individuals are more likely to get away with staying. Therefore, they encounter less competition from larger alligators. Sadly, one of the potential food sources for alligators in built-up areas is domestic pets. Attacks on humans are also recorded. Although, this particular alligator seemed quite willing to do what it was told!

Alligators and Their Size

alligator

A fully grown alligator can be up to 450 pounds!

©Sorbis/Shutterstock.com

Alligators come in a variety of sizes, depending on their stage of life and geographic location. Juvenile alligators are typically 6-7 feet long, while adult alligators can range from 8-15 feet long. In some parts of the world, alligators can reach lengths up to 19 feet or more!

In terms of weight, younger alligators typically weigh between 35-45 pounds, while adult alligators can range from 150-450 pounds. In rare cases, mature alligators have been known to weigh up to 500 pounds!

The size of alligators also varies greatly depending on where they live. Alligators in the southern United States tend to be the largest. Alligators in Florida are typically the largest, as they have a longer growing season and abundant food.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Ernie Hounshell/Shutterstock.com


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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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