Tag: gator

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

‘Legendary’ sighting as huge gator attempts to climb wall in Florida

The striking image was shared by news personalities, including one who jokingly cautioned residents to watch out for “climbing gators.”

Alligator sightings in Florida are fairly common, especially near wetlands.

But when the prehistoric-looking reptiles begin to scale walls in residential areas, it might seem like cause for alarm.

The accompanying image, captured by Belynda Blyth in Englewood, shows a large gator attempting to climb over a wall near a busy road.

As some remarked via social media, the gator also seems to be heeding advice written on the sign.

“Meanwhile in Florida. Spotted in Englewood. Watch for climbing gators too,” WINK News meteorologist Matt Devitt warned Wednesday via  Facebook.

The image was subsequently shared by others in the news business, including NBC2 reporter Gina Tomlinson, who remarked, “This is LEGENDARY. Gators are now climbing walls and it’s not even AI.”

The striking image, presumably genuine, is just another example of how gators make news in Florida.

Their presence just about anywhere is not surprising, given that they exist in all 67 Florida counties.

While most Floridians safely coexist with alligators, painful or deadly conflicts occur.

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Committee (FWC), about five people per year suffer alligator bites. Since 1948, 22 people in Florida have been killed by alligators.

The state receives hundreds of complaints each year regarding alligators showing in unwanted places, and that’s often bad news for gators. The state permits the killing of up to 7,000 “nuisance alligators” each year.

Here’s hoping the wall-climbing Englewood gator made it safely back into watery seclusion.

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.”

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

Giant ‘infamous’ gator spotted on the move in Florida; video

Recent footage shows the normally elusive gator, named, Fabio crossing a trail in broad daylight at Circle B Bar Reserve. “I was in awe.”

Florida is home to more than 1 million alligators, but there’s only one Fabio, a giant among giants in the Circle B Bar Reserve wetlands in Polk County.

The accompanying footage, captured Saturday by Ken Bergquist and shared by WINK News, shows Fabio traversing a trail while being photographed by onlookers.

“Fabio the infamous wild alligator was seen strolling through the Circle B Bar Reserve near Lakeland, Florida this past weekend,” WINK meteorologist Nash Rhodes boasted on Facebook.

While Fabio sightings might not be uncommon, it’s apparently rare to glimpse the reptile fully out of the water and on the move in broad daylight.

Bergquist, a regular at the reserve, told the Miami Herald that until Saturday he had only caught glimpses of a motionless Fabio basking in the sun.

“I’ve seen many [others] cross trails, but never a really huge one,” Bergquist said. “I was in awe.”

Bergquist said Fabio, who was named by locals, measures at least 12 feet. He’s believed to be one of the biggest, if not the biggest alligator in the reserve.

For comparison, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the longest alligator documented in Florida measured 14 feet, 3-1/2 inches.

The weight record, for a different gator, is 1,043 pounds.

The Circle B Bar Reserve is a 1,267-acre parcel of restored and protected wetlands near Lakeland.

‘Massive’ gator caught near Christmas shoppers at Florida mall

Authorities relocated the 12-foot, 600-pound gator to an area where it posed less of a threat to human safety.

Authorities in Florida have caught and relocated an enormous alligator after the reptile appeared near shoppers at a busy mall.

WINK News meteorologist Matt Devitt reported Friday via X:

“WOW! Massive 12 foot, 600 pound gator was just captured (and relocated) recently away from Christmas shoppers at the Coconut Point Mall in Estero, Florida. That’s a big boy!”

The image was credited to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.

While the alligator is huge, American alligators in Florida can be significantly larger.

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s website, the state record for length is a 14-foot, 3-1/2-inch male from Lake Washington in Brevard County.

The weight record, also for a male gator, stands at 1,043 pounds.

Devitt commonly shares news about alligator encounters. One of his posts involved a powerful gator caught on video spreading the bars of a metal fence to access the other side.