As he was headed back to shore, swimming rather quickly, an alligator darted toward him. Webbed feet and a long, strong tail aid in the animal’s propulsion through the water. Being cold-blooded, they rely on their environment to keep them warm. They will either dig mud-filled pits to store heat or sunbathe to do this. Most alligators might be difficult to overlook when lazing on the shore, but when drifting in the water, they can resemble logs uncannily. Unfortunately, this water enthusiast doesn’t make it safely to shore without interaction with this ancient beast. The alligator ends up biting him in the arm! Thankfully, he didn’t clench down and drag him underwater. Alligators around the world eat other animals. They consume fish, invertebrates, amphibians, birds, rodents, and invertebrates. Their muscular jaws are strong enough to break a turtle’s shell, and they use their keen teeth to catch prey. Most of the time, alligators feed at night. When large prey is caught, it is dragged underwater and drowned before being eaten. Alligators also have a glottis, which is a throat adaption. They may now catch prey that is entirely immersed in the water thanks to this.
A Lucky Break
The man eventually makes it to the shore, where he chats with his friend recording on his phone. His arm looks relatively unharmed, but will definitely serve as a reminder to be careful where you swim. Because this alligator was out during the day, he likely attacked for territorial reasons. Males tend to be more territorial than females, especially if they live alone. In 2022, alligator assaults have claimed the lives of at least four humans. Attacks by alligators are uncommon, and the likelihood of dying from one is even lower. Alligators are typically wary of people, but they occasionally bite. Another reason why the attack could’ve occurred is the alligator is famished. When animals are extremely hungry, they attack humans in hopes of getting some sustenance. We here at A to Z Animals think this is unlikely in this specific situation since the ‘gator didn’t end up killing the swimmer. Back away carefully if an alligator approaches you from a few yards away. Wild alligators rarely pursue humans, yet they are capable of sprinting up to 35 mph across short ranges on land. It’s also in your best interest to avoid alligator-infested water, especially if you’re a swimmer.
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