Alligator sightings are fairly common in Florida, but it’s not often that a gator is spotted on a street in broad daylight with 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 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 video appears to have been captured from inside a vehicle, with the occupants watching in disbelief.
This unusual sighting adds to the collection of bizarre alligator moments captured by WINK News viewers and shared by For The Win Outdoors.
According to the Florida Fish and Game Conservation Commission (FWC), alligators reside in all 67 Florida counties, with an overall gator population of 1.3 million. However, 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, while the weight record (for a slightly shorter gator) stands at 1,043 pounds. Alligators are opportunistic feeders that occasionally prey on snakes.
This sighting serves as a reminder of the unique wildlife encounters possible in Florida, where nature often mingles with urban life in unexpected ways.
Gator spotted walking down the street casually eating a snake on Fort Myers Beach. Welcome to #Florida. Credit: @WINKNews viewer Kayanna H 🐊👀 pic.twitter.com/VZ37yf2MGn
— Matt Devitt (@MattDevittWX) June 26, 2024