Mighty Alligator Breaks Through Thick Metal Fence in Striking Display of Strength and Determination

If you think a metal fence can keep an alligator out, think again. One alligator proved that it takes something quite a bit stronger to keep a determined alligator from breaking through. Read on to find out just how an American alligator can bust through the bars of a metal fence.

An Alligator on a Florida Golf Course Busts Through a Fence

A video from CBS News on YouTube shows an alligator casually forcing its way through what appears to be a wrought iron fence. We learn in the description that the fence bars were actually made of aluminum. Still, it’s an impressive feat undertaken by the alligator, although aluminum is easier to bend than other metals. The video was filmed on a golf course at the Coral Creek Club in Placida, Florida.

The alligator first forces its head through the bars and then pushes its body through. As half its body makes its way through the now-bent bars, the alligator appears to get stuck. At this point, a man casually walks over and begins to help it through the fence.

From a Facebook post by Matt Devitt of WINK News, “He eventually got through according to the WINK News viewer who shot the video. Only in Florida!”

How Strong Are Alligators?

Alligators have brute force on their side, weighing anywhere from 400 to 800 pounds. Although we don’t know what sort of force alligators have to bend metal, we do know they have a bite force of 2,000 pounds per square inch. To understand how strong that is, we can compare the human bite, which is 120 pounds of pressure per square inch.

How Well Can a Fence Stop an Alligator?

They may not look particularly agile, but alligators are adept at getting around. The alligator in the video wanted to get through to the other side. It nudged its way through the bars and realized they weren’t immovable, so it continued pushing its way through.

Had the fence been lower, the alligator may have tried climbing it. Alligators are surprisingly good climbers, and according to a fencing company, the best way to keep alligators out of your yard is to build a seven-foot or higher fence. Also, be sure your fence extends underground because alligators are also good at digging tunnels. The fence company recommends vinyl fencing (not aluminum bars) to keep alligators from getting a grip and being able to climb.

Why Do Alligators Break Through Obstacles?

We don’t know exactly what the alligator in the video was trying to get to, but we do know that an alligator is highly motivated to get through obstacles when they are on the hunt for food. If you live where alligators are found, you need to be very careful leaving your pets outside unattended.

Another time you may see alligators moving around more is during mating season. Alligator mating season begins with courting in April and mating during May and June. Alligators court before they mate by nuzzling and pressing each other’s snouts and backs.

Mating season is the time of year when you are most likely to see alligators showing up everywhere: in pools, on golf courses, and even in people’s homes, in search of a mate.

Where Are Alligators Found?

If you live in alligator country, you will need to consider methods for keeping alligators out of your yard. American alligators are only found in the United States. Their habitats range across the southeast from Texas to Florida and as far north as North Carolina. You can find them around bodies of water, such as slow-moving freshwater rivers, lakes, swamps, and marshes.

Why Alligators Are Important to the Ecosystem

At one time, alligators were considered endangered, but they have made a successful comeback. Although they may be a nuisance in people’s homes and on golf courses, they are an important species to the health of their ecosystem. Alligators burrow in mud near bodies of water to nest and keep warm. When they leave these burrows, the holes fill up with water. Other species in the ecosystem use the water-filled holes for drinking and breeding.

Do Alligators Attack People?

They may seem frightening, but most of the time, alligators have no interest in people. Experts recommend keeping a close eye on small children and pets, as alligators may see smaller humans and animals as prey.

There are 1.25 million alligators in Florida, but the state only has an average of eight unprovoked bites per year. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, from 1948 to 2022, there have been 453 unprovoked bites in Florida. Out of those, 26 resulted in fatalities.