An alligator had a close encounter with sandhill cranes. However, he was outnumbered, so he turned back to the water.
Alligator Vs. Sandhill Crane
Footage of an alligator and sandhill crane facing off against each other was shared on Facebook on March 10. The incident happened between two neighborhood ponds in Sarasota, and Laura Akin witnessed it and recorded the encounter.
According to Yahoo! News, the alligator was 8 feet long. The reptile can be seen walking uphill while a sandhill crane opens its wings wide as if attempting to scare it. Three other cranes can be seen at a distance.
The alligator was not intimidated at first. It crawled up until only a few feet away from the crane.
They spent the next seconds glaring at each other, neither backing down nor moving forward. However, the gator sensed a threat or probably realized he was outnumbered because he suddenly turned and dived back into the water.
Akin said her heart was racing while watching the encounter because she had no idea what would happen next. She added that she was aware of how bullies sandhill cranes were. She remembered how they sauntered when they crossed the road.
Paul Blohm said the cranes were "gangster." Krystle Joy said that cranes are "badass birds."
Another said that between the sandhill crane and the gator, she felt bad for the latter because cranes are mean birds.
Rick Lavoie said he never thought the sandhill crane was worried at all because he had already witnessed a gator being attacked by four cranes at once, and the reptile ended up in a semi-conscious condition until one neighbor tied a rope around the gator's neck and dragged the beast back into the water. He added that it was a true story and it happened in Savanna Club in Port St. Lucie, Florida.
Stephanie Jinar Kelly said she was more afraid of sandhill cranes than gators, calling the former "crazy." Kelly's fear has some basis because, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, cranes have been reported pecking people in rare instances.
What Is a Sandhill Crane?
Sandhill cranes are birds that can grow up to nearly 4 feet long with a wing span of 6 and a half feet. According to All About Birds, they have tall, gray bodies with crimson foreheads, white cheeks, long and pointed beaks, long gray necks, long legs, and tufted rump feathers.
They usually go in groups and fill the air with their distinctive rolling cries. They produce loud, rolling, trumpeting sounds. The unique tone was due to their long trachea that coils into the sternum and enables the development of lower pitch and harmonics.
They are known for their dancing skills. They stretch their wings, pump their heads, bow, and leap gracefully into the air.
Sandhill cranes usually stay with their mates and newest young throughout the year. However, if not mated, they will migrate, feed and roost in groups, according to Exploring Nature.
They eat seeds, insects, spiders, snails, frogs, lizards, and small mammals. Their natural feeding habits are wetlands.
Sandhill cranes can live up to 20 years in the wild. They are not endangered but are rare in the southern part.
RELATED ARTICLE : Massive 10-Foot Alligator Walks in a Neighborhood in Florida on Easter Sunday as Mating Season Begins [Watch]
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