Their prey may also include snakes, water monitors and other lizards. Alligators also catch water birds like herons, storks, egrets and water fowl. Muskrats and raccoons are among the some of the mammals that American alligators prey on. However, if given the opportunity, they will attack larger prey too. Alligators will usually seek prey that is much smaller than they are. They will catch fledgling birds as well.Īdult alligators will prey on any aquatic resident and any animal that comes to the water or the water’s edge. Adolescent alligators will hunt turtles, larger fish, and small mammals like muskrats, raccoons and others animals that can be found at the water’s edge. As they grow up, alligators will progressively move on to larger prey. They will often feed on fish, crustaceans, invertebrates, turtles, snakes, birds and mammals.Īlligator hatchlings will generally feed on insects and their larvae, worms, spiders and snails. What each alligator eats depends largely on three main factors: the size and the age of the alligator, the size and availability of the prey, and the habitat where it lives. For example, investigations of dead alligators have revealed that they also eat fruits like elderberries, citrus fruits and wild grapes, directly from trees that overhang over their habitats. "People just need to be alert and aware," he said.Alligators are primarily carnivores, but alligators have been known to eat a wide variety of other food sources when given the opportunity. The best lesson is to be cautious around waters where alligators live, Ross said. Once female alligators lay their eggs, some (but not all) will guard these nests from humans.Īlligators are also more active at dusk, although they can be active at any time of the day or night, Ross added. An analysis showed that the alligator was a female and that her nest was nearby, Ron Magill, the Miami-Dade Zoological Park and Gardens spokesperson, told the Washington Post.Īlligators in Florida typically mate in late May and early June, and males are known to patrol their territory and respond to perceived threats more actively than they otherwise would during this time, Ross said. The alligator that went after Jordan slipped into the water after Blackmon shot it, and it was found dead later Friday night. If you do survive an alligator attack, it's important to seek medical treatment immediately, because alligator bites often impart "very nasty infections," likely because of harmful bacteria in their mouths and the water, Ross said. In 2016, an alligator snatched and killed a 2-year-old boy at a Disney resort in Florida, even after the boy's father attacked it, Live Science previously reported.
In particular, hit their snout and eyes the snout is covered with sensitive receptors, and the eyes are one of the only parts of their body that's vulnerable, Ross said.īut this doesn't always work. "Struggle, fight, push, gouge, scream - anything you can do to get away," Ross said. Alligators and other types of crocodilians often release prey if they find it is too strong and dangerous for them to pursue, he said. If an alligator bites you, "you should fight like hell," Ross said. "Alligators are extremely quick and agile and will defend themselves when cornered." (By comparison, gold medalist Usain Bolt tops out at about 28 mph (45 km/h.) "Never make the mistake of thinking that an alligator is slow and lethargic," TPWD reported. Just run in a straight line, directly away from the alligator, Ross said.Īlligators can move up to 35 mph (56 km/h) for short distances on land, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD). He noted that the idea of "running in zigzags" is a myth. If you're that close to an alligator, back off and run away, Ross said.
That's the distance that it can very rapidly strike." "The danger zone for an alligator is about half its body length, directly in front and about 80 or 90 degrees from either side.
"The real problem, of course, comes from the alligator that you don't see," Ross said. For starters, don't go into the water if there is an alligator there. If you see an alligator in the wild, it's best to give it space, Ross said.
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