Floridians waiting at a red light in Venice were shocked to see a massive alligator making its way past traffic lanes before suddenly disappearing beneath a man's truck. Although alligator sightings in the state seem to be the norm, the size of the lizard baffled residents.
Florida Motorists Shock at Sight of Massive Alligator Crawling Through Traffic
A shocking motorist sitting during a red light in Venice, Florida, spun citizens in disbelief as a 10-foot alligator was seen crawling across several lanes of traffic before vanishing under a man's truck.
In a bizarre turn, the gator seemed too thick to squeeze through the tight space underneath the van easily. Daniel Jay Kaufman, the van owner, told McClatchy News that the alligator was likely three-quarters the way underneath the box truck when he felt it shake and wiggle from underneath.
He added that the traffic light had turned green by that time, and co cars were in front of the truck. He couldn't drive the truck since he did not want to injure the alligator stuck underneath, thinking for a second of just staying still, reports the Miami Herald.
On April 7th, Thursday, the surprising events occurred at around five in the afternoon on Jacaranda Boulevard while Kaufman was driving home from work. Venice, Florida, is roughly 75 miles south of Tampa.
Kaufman first noticed a Snap-on tool van reversing, followed by traffic on the other side of the road coming to a screeching halt. About twenty feet away, a single, lumbering, massive alligator - with one of its feet missing, was seen crawling about.
Kaufman immediately pulled out his phone and started recording the amusing sight. However, things quickly turned when the alligator began passing vehicles and scrambling straight towards his vehicle.
Kaufman posted the harrowing video on Facebook the same day, garnering more than 100,000 views. According to the state, some commenters suggested that the alligator's risky trek may be linked with the beginning of the gator mating season, which started in early April.
Understanding Florida's Alligators
Alligators appear across the globe in various places, even across the United States; however, they are predominantly seen living in Florida due to the Everglades and many swamps in the state.
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the American alligator is a large aquatic reptile and is one of two crocodilians native to the state. Alligators can be distinguished by the shape of their head and color. Alligators have broad, rounded snouts with no lower teeth visible when closed jaw.
Adults of the specie are predominantly dark gray with a lighter color on their underside; on the other hand, juveniles have light-colored stripes on their sides which aid in camouflage.
Alligators occur from southeast Oklahoma to east Texas on the west side of the range to North Carolina and Florida on the east. The lizards prefer freshwater lakes and slow-moving rivers but can also be found in the blacking water habitats and saltwater.
RELATED ARTICLE: Man Looking for Shark Caught Rare and Mysterious Sawfish but Returned it in Florida Waters
Check out more news and information on Animals in Science Times.
