Tag: Alligator

Alaska brothers’ fight ends badly for both men, and a pet crocodile

They were arrested after tossing each other’s toothy reptile from an apartment window. An alligator was rescued, but the croc is missing.

Two adult brothers were charged with animal cruelty last week in Alaska after getting into a quarrel and tossing each other’s pet reptile from an apartment window into the snow.

According to the Anchorage Daily News, the pets were an 18-inch alligator and 24-inch crocodile. The alligator was rescued but the crocodile was not recovered and is presumed dead.

While some might consider the men’s actions an odd way to settle their differences, some might also wonder if it’s legal to own alligators and crocodiles in Alaska.

According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, it is legal to keep both species, just as it’s legal to keep snakes and lizards as pets.

However, releasing exotic pets into the wild, where they must try to fend for themselves, is illegal and could pose threats to native species. (Presumably, tossing an animal from a window and failing to retrieve it is a form of illegal release.)

Alligators and crocodiles prefer tropical climates and could not survive in the Alaska wilderness, especially during the winter.

Both men are in their early 30s and the incident occurred outside Wasilla.

Watch as Florida gator drags massive python across pond

Large Burmese pythons are known to eat alligators in the Everglades. But sometimes the opposite is true.

Large Burmese pythons are known to eat alligators in Florida’s Everglades region. But sometimes the opposite is true.

The accompanying footage, captured Nov. 28, shows a large gator swimming across a pond with a giant python in its jaws.

“This is one of the coolest, most impressive sights I have had the pleasure of seeing since working in Everglades National Park,” Florida Findings declared Monday via Facebook. “Our biggest alligator in the Shark Valley [Trail] Loop, about 12 feet in length, dragging an invasive Burmese Python that is at least twice his size.”

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DDHL2IsJq4q/?igsh=NjZiM2M3MzIxNA%3D%3D

ABC News, crediting Kelly Alvarez and Storyful for the footage, stated via Instagram: “Visitors to Florida’s Everglades National Park were stunned to see an alligator swimming with its catch — a Burmese python so large it even stunned the tour guides.”

The extraordinary footage has been widely shared since Monday.

In Florida, non-native Burmese pythons pose a significant threat to native wildlife, including small gators. They can be hunted without permits as the state attempts to reduce their numbers and slow their spread.

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), the longest alligator recorded in Florida measured 14 feet, 3-1/2 inches. The weight record is 1,043 pounds.

The longest Burmese python captured in Florida measured 19 feet and weighed 125 pounds.

Massive gator easily tears through metal fence; ‘This can’t be real’

Footage shows the reptile methodically breaching the barrier to access the other side. “Only in Florida.”

–A version of this post was published by FTW Outdoors in March 2023.

In February 2023, a Florida weatherman shared a compelling image showing a massive alligator seemingly staring down a photographer on a golf course.

“Welcome to Florida, home to Jurassic Park,” Matt Devitt, Chief Meteorologist for WINK News, wrote on Facebook.

Weeks later, Devitt shared the accompanying footage, showing another large gator easily breaching a metal fence to access the other side. (Click here if the video player doesn’t appear below.)

https://www.facebook.com/MattDevittWeather/videos/2325264120968791

“Check out this big guy bend the aluminum bars and plow right through it this week in Placida,” Devitt wrote on Facebook. “He eventually got through according to the viewer who shot the video. Only in Florida!”

Devitt stressed in the comments section, which contained input from nearly 2,000 followers, that the bars were not as formidable as, say, wrought iron.

Still, many were impressed by the ease with which the gator clawed through the barrier.

“This can’t be real,” one follower wrote.

The alligator’s size was not provided, but for those who might wonder, the longest alligator recorded in Florida measured 14 feet, 3-1/2 inches. The weight record is 1,043 pounds.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) states on its website that about 1.3 million alligators reside in Florida.

Alligator sighting in Washington State prompts investigation

The 10-foot gator was last seen in Snohomish County, headed toward a river. Several questions remain unanswered.

**UPDATE: As reported Saturday afternoon by KIRO 7, the reptile in question turned out to be an exotic tegu lizard that recently escaped from its owner.

Alligators are not native to Washington State and could not establish a population in the region because of its cool climate. But somewhere in Snohomish County, a very large gator is on the prowl.

“Granite Falls Deputies are investigating the sighting of a 10’ alligator near the 9400 block of Ray Grade Rd.,” the Snohomish County Sheriff announced late Friday via X. “The reptile was last seen south of Ray Grade Rd. toward the Pilchuck River.”

A grainy image shows the alligator in dense vegetation.

KIRO 7 reported that the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is aware of the sighting but, at this point, does not plan to try to locate or capture the reptile.

“There aren’t any houses near where the gator was spotted so deputies are hopeful there won’t be any interactions with humans,” KIRO 7 reported.

It’s not clear who previously owned the gator or how long it has survived in the wild.

American alligators are native to the southeastern United States and thrive in hot, steamy regions such as the Florida Everglades.

Sightings in Washington State are extremely rare, but in 2016 several reported sightings on Lake Meridian prompted Kent city officials to post warning signs along the shore.

–Generic image atop this post is courtesy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Gator strolls through Florida beach town ‘casually eating a snake’

The bizarre alligator encounter, caught on video, occurred in broad daylight at Fort Myers Beach. “Welcome to Florida.”

Alligator sightings are fairly common in Florida, but it’s not often that a gator is spotted on a street in broad daylight toting a freshly caught meal.

“Gator spotted walking down the street casually eating a snake on Fort Myers Beach,” WINK News meteorologist Matt Devitt described Wednesday via X. “Welcome to Florida.”

The accompanying footage, sent to Devitt by a viewer named Kayanna, shows the alligator strolling along the roadside with part of the snake in its jaws while dragging the rest.

The footage appears to have been captured from inside a vehicle as its occupants watched in disbelief.

The scene brings to mind other bizarre moments involving alligators, captured on video by WINK News viewers and shared by For The Win Outdoors.

A sampling: Florida gator tears through metal fence with alarming ease; ‘Legendary’ sighting as huge gator attempts to climb wall in Florida, and Giant ‘infamous’ gator spotted on the move in Florida.

According to the Florida Fish and Game Conservation Commission (FWC), alligators reside in all 67 Florida counties. Overall gator population: 1.3 million.

But most sightings occur in or near marshes and wetlands; not on city streets.

The longest alligator recorded in Florida measured 14 feet, 3.5 inches. The weight record (for a slightly shorter gator) stands at 1,043 pounds.

Alligators are opportunistic feeders that occasionally prey on snakes.

Watch: Alligator nabs angler’s catch with astonishing speed

Footage shows the large reptile chasing the hooked fish onto shore and reappearing into frame with the catch between its jaws.

A Florida angler hooked and landed an impressive fish recently, but a super-speedy alligator raced ashore and stole his catch.

The accompanying footage shows the fish striking a lure and the alligator speeding after the fish as it’s being reeled toward shore. The gator pauses briefly as the fish is pulled onto land, then follows the fish out of frame.

Moments later, the gator reappears with its prize.

“WOW! Check out this gator quickly lunge out of the water to steal a fish for an easy dinner in Estero, Florida,” Matt Devitt of WINK News exclaimed Wednesday via X, crediting the footage to Gavin Borsky.

It’s unclear if Borsky staged the scene. But the footage reveals how swiftly alligators can maneuver: up to 20 mph in the water and 11 mph on land.

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, alligators are opportunistic predators that commonly feed on fish.

Apparently, this gator has discovered, a hooked fish is easier to catch than a free-swimming fish.

–Alligator image courtesy of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Giant gator saunters across Florida golf course in ‘Jurassic’ moment

Footage shows the colossal reptile in a purposeful stride, causing meteorologist Matt Devitt to remark, “I’d let him play through.”

Alligator sightings occur fairly routinely in and near water on Florida golf courses. Less common is the sight of a giant gator strolling across a fairway in broad daylight.

The accompanying footage was shared Wednesday by WINK News chief meteorologist Matt Devitt, who stated via X:

“Welcome to Jurassic Park. Massive Florida gator spotted Monday at this golf course in Rotonda from a WINK News viewer. I’d let him play through.”

It’s not the first time Devitt has referenced ‘Jurassic Park’ in video clips he received from viewers.

In February 2023, Devitt shared an image showing a truly massive gator gazing ominously toward the photographer from a different golf course.

“Welcome to Florida, home to Jurassic Park,” Devitt wrote on Facebook.

Any alligator measuring 10-plus feet is huge.

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the state length record is 14 feet, 3-1/2 inches (Lake Washington, Brevard County).

The weight record, for a different alligator, is 1,043 pounds (Orange Lake, Alachua County.)

Not everybody was impressed by Devitt’s video post on Wednesday.

One follower commented, “That’s pretty much an every day occurrence somewhere in Florida. Only non-Floridians even find it noteworthy.”

Massive alligator snags helpless snapping turtle in its jaws on Florida golf course

“Like a gun going off,” Yarborough said.

Not far from where Casey Yarborough was playing golf on Wednesday, he said he heard a loud pop.

“Like a gun going off,” Yarborough said.

Yarborough, who lives in Fort Myers, Florida, was on a fairway and the sound came from the other side of a pond along the golf course in Naples. It was about 5 p.m. When he drove up to the next hole he saw what it was.

“It looked like about a 50-pound snapping turtle,” he said.

The turtle was caught in the massive jaws of what Yarborough estimated was 14-foot-long alligator. The pop he heard was the Alligator’s teeth connecting with the turtle’s hard shell. Florida is filled with incredible wildlife moments on a daily basis. This was one of them and Yarborough, 52, pulled out his cellphone and took some memorable photos.

An alligator, estimated to be 14-feet long, clasps onto a snapping turtle with its jaws at a Naples, Florida area golf course on March 20, 2024. (Photo: Casey Yarborough/Special to naplesnews.com)

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) website, American Alligators eat rough fish, snakes, turtles, small mammals, and birds. “Alligators are opportunistic feeders,” the website states. “Their diets include prey species that are abundant and easily accessible.”

They can also leave an impression on someone like Yarborough, who admitted there was a time when he was known to water ski over alligators.

“But now I might think twice,” he said.

Tennessee bass angler lands alligator in rarest of catches

Justin Wyrick caught the gator in a part of Tennessee where the reptiles are not known to exist.

The extraordinary catch Monday of an alligator at an East Tennessee lake has piqued the interest of state biologists.

Justin Wyrick hooked the alligator while casting a jig for bass at Norris Lake. The toothy critter measured 3-plus feet.

According to the Volunteer Times, Wyrick’s brother Tyler helped Justin get the gator safely on shore.

The catch was so rare that a Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency officer biologist arrived to confirm the species and deliver the gator to the Little Ponderosa Zoo.

Alligators are not native to Tennessee and sightings in East Tennessee are exceedingly rare. (The gator caught by Wyrick might have been an illegal pet released into the waterway.)

However, the TWRA states on its website that alligators are expanding into Southwest Tennessee from neighboring southern states.

In recent years, the agency explained, several confirmed sightings have been recorded. One of the gators, caught on video at the Wolf River Wildlife Management Area, measured 7 feet.

“Alligators expanding into Tennessee is just another species that we must learn to coexist with like many of the other southern states,” the TWRA website states. “Alligators can survive Tennessee winters by going into a hibernation-like dormancy called brumation.”

The agency added: “TWRA would like to remind everyone that possessing or releasing alligators in Tennessee is illegal and poses safety and ecological risks as well as alligators are a protected species and catching or shooting one is a violation of the law.

“If you come across one while exploring the outdoors in West TN, leave it alone and enjoy Tennessee’s unique biodiversity.”

–Image showing Justin Wyrick with the alligator is courtesy of Patricia Goins

Wildlife officer thought angler was joking when reporting a rare catch

Justin Wyrick was fishing with a swimbait at a Tennessee lake when he made the catch of a lifetime, only it wasn’t what he was targeting.

Justin Wyrick was fishing with a swimbait at Tennessee’s Norris Lake when he made the catch of a lifetime, only it wasn’t what he was targeting.

What Wyrick surprisingly reeled in Monday around 5 p.m. was an alligator measuring 3- to 4-feet long, as reported by KnoxNews and WATE.

When Wyrick or his fishing companion (possibly his father) called the catch into the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, the wildlife officer at the end of the line questioned the legitimacy of the catch.

“He thought the guy was joking,” TWRA spokesman Matthew Cameron told KnoxNews.

But when wildlife officer Rick Roberts arrived on the scene, there was Wyrick pinning the alligator to the ground as he held it behind the head.

“We’re not sure how it got there,” Cameron told KnoxNews. “It did not get there on its own.”

The speculation is that the alligator was a former pet that had been illegally released. Cameron estimated the reptile to be 3 to 4 years old, since they grow about a foot a year.

“Are there gonna be alligators out there? Probably not,” Cameron told WATE. “But once again, it’s possible that someone could have captured another one, brought it into Tennessee illegally and then released it illegally into the water.

“We don’t think it’s something that the public needs to be overly concerned about, but you know, obviously you need to be aware of your surroundings, very similar with other wildlife, just you know what’s out there. If someone were to see another one, don’t approach it, call us. We’ll come and try to capture it and get it somewhere that it is supposed to be.”

KnoxNews reported that alligators are naturally expanding their range into Tennessee from the southern border states, but they are not likely to be found in East Tennessee.

“This is not good alligator habitat,” Cameron told KnoxNews. “They love swampy land and warm water…The winters here get extremely cold…and they don’t prefer deep, clear water. I suppose it could survive here, but it would not be a great habitat for an alligator to thrive in.”

The alligator was taken to the Little Ponderosa Zoo, a rescue facility outside Clinton, until a permanent residence can be found.

As for what Wyrick was fishing for, we can only speculate that it was bass, but we know for certain he wasn’t targeting alligators.

Norris Lake photo courtesy of Wikipedia; photos of Justin Wyrick holding his catch courtesy of Patricia Goins; photo of alligator courtesy of Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.