The video will make you want to go paddle boarding Florida. A user published in early August in the Facebook group Alligators of Florida, a video in which we can see a alligator holding in its mouth a smaller alligator. Relayed by Click Orlandothe footage was filmed in Silver Springs National Park in Marion County in central Florida.
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In her comment, Tammy Shaw says she witnessed the scene as she peacefully paddled the waters of this tourist site known for the animals that inhabit it. “I was fascinated by the size of the alligator and the one it ate. I wasn’t too scared because he was obviously busy, but when he went underwater I was worried about where he was going to pop up“, she said.
The alligator, an opportunistic predator
The post sparked a lot of comments about the dangers of paddleboarding in waters infested withalligators. “This is a perfect example of why I don’t paddleboard“, exclaimed a netizen. These images are not uncommon on the forum. Indeed, the fact is not unusual, especially during the mating season which extends from March to mid-June. ” It’s typical alligator behavior,” said Gary Morse, Florida Fish & Wildlifeat Fox 13.”They are sometimes cannibalistic. What alligators usually do is they take that animal and stuff it somewhere for a week or two until it gets soft and they can tear it apart“.
Alligators are opportunistic. These predators will eat whatever is most accessible. This includes birds, fish, turtles, snakes, frogs, and even fruits. Although alligators have been known to attack people, this is a rare occurrence. “With the number of people and the number of alligators, it’s really surprising that it doesn’t happen more often“, told USA Today Frank Mazzotti, professor of wildlife ecology and member of the “Croc Docs” at the University of Florida.
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