Alligators are also equipped to climb fences; that's what one alligator from Florida showed in a resurfaced video.
Alligator Spotted Climbing a Fence at Naval Air Station Jacksonville
Alligators are among the most notorious predators in the United States. They have strong bite forces, only behind crocodiles, and a speed up to 35 miles an hour on land and 20 miles an hour in water. A resurfaced video shared on Whiskey Riff showed that alligators could climb fences. One should take note of this as another layer to their arsenal of attack.
In the video, the alligator stands and climbs the chain link fence with ease, as if it climbs fences all its life before doing a belly-flop. A woman driving by at the Naval Air Station Jacksonville in Florida captured the moment.
The official of the air station said they had no plans to remove the alligator unless it posed a danger to the residents. The video was originally posted three years ago, and many were surprised at what they witnessed. Several said it made the alligator scarier.
"The fact that the fence doesn't just deter him from going to that side of the street. It's mind-boggling that the alligator can recognize the fence and knows how to get over it. It's both impressive and scary," one commented.
"Imagine being chased by an alligator, and you jump the fence to get away saying, 'whew, that sucker almost got me,' and then it starts f--king climbing the fence," another added.
Another user, who claimed to be a resident from Florida, said the sight got him concerned because the alligators were "evolving."
NAS Jacksonville shared the photo of the climbing alligator on its Facebook page, joking that the alligators on the base "don't respect our security measures."
"On the serious side, always be aware of small children and pets. Golfers, be aware and watch where you stick your hands. Do not approach them ever!" NAS Jacksonville added.
Can Alligators Climb?
The sight of an alligator climbing a fence should not be a surprise. Both alligators and crocodiles are well-documented to climb trees. Some acts are even caught on camera.
The Australian freshwater crocodile, the Nile crocodile, the American crocodile, and the American alligator have all been documented climbing trees. Various crocodilians have been observed climbing and spending considerable time in trees high above the ground.
Juvenile crocs in Colombia have also been observed climbing to heights of nearly 30 feet, Roaring Earth reported.
However, according to Wild Life Informer, there are at least two things to consider - their weight and if the tree or fence is strong enough to hold them. If the alligator is not too heavy, it can certainly climb.
Alligators are ectotherms. They get heat from their environment instead of generating it as mammals do. They are easily affected by the changes in temperature in the surrounding.
They are believed to climb trees to regulate their temperature - possibly to bring them to a warmer place or away from the cold water.
RELATED ARTICLE: Massive 10-Foot Alligator Walks in a Neighborhood in Florida on Easter Sunday as Mating Season Begins [Watch]
Check out more news and information on Alligators in Science Times.
