An Alabama resident was surprised upon seeing an alligator on the shores of Dauphin Island on May 7. It was the first time he saw a gator on the sand beach.
Alligator Spotted Enjoying The Beach In Alabama
Matt Harvill shared photos and videos of the gator at the beach on Facebook. According to him, it was an unexpected sighting, noting that it was the first time a gator was on Dauphin Island.
He added that the gator was heading toward the west end and reminded the public to be careful. The post received several responses.
Jackie Jacobson Johnson said seeing floating sharks in the water was fine but not a big croc. Another said he didn't think freshwater alligators could live in saltwater oceans.
A user said the reptile floating in the water looked more like a saltwater crocodile than a gator. A different user agreed that it's likely a saltwater crocodile.
Marty Roe said the animal acted like it owned the beach. Sharon Herne- Kelly agreed, writing it "kinda does at the moment."
According to People, alligators usually live in slow-moving freshwater, but it's not uncommon for them to switch to saltwater occasionally. The Dauphin Island Sea Lab told AL.com that alligators visit the waters around the island frequently.
It's possible that the gator ended up in the ocean while searching for food. The island's freshwater alligators will venture into the ocean to hunt for crabs, turtles, and baby sharks.
The marine lab said that because gators prefer less salinity, gator sightings in the ocean after heavy rains are more frequent.
The alligator Harvill saw surfing is reportedly not the first gator to be observed close to the ocean this year. A large alligator was seen sunbathing in April in Texas, close to Galveston Island.
In Alabama, it is illegal to threaten or kill an alligator. Outdoor Alabama suggests granting the alligator its space and discourages people from feeding it.
Can Gators Survive The Beach?
According to National Ocean Service, you will likely encounter many things while swimming. However, alligators are not one of them.
While gators can tolerate salt water, they can only survive for a few days. Alligators are primarily freshwater animals living in swampy areas, ponds, lakes, rivers, and streams.
Although freshwater alligators aren't meant to live in the ocean, that doesn't mean that they don't go to the beach. In 2022, a 10-foot alligator was also spotted enjoying the beach in Florida.
Kyle Hussey told Fox 35 News that he was at Melbourne Beach and saw the huge gator swimming up to the shore from the ocean. The reptile seemed tired after swimming as it took a little break by laying on the shore to soak up the Florida sun.
Just like Harvill, he also said that it was something they did not see every day. He shared the photo on the Brevard County Surf Fishing Report Facebook and reminded others to "Watch your toes!"
According to Hussey, a Florida Fish and Wildlife officer arrived, and the gator swam into the waves. He left and wasn't sure what happened next.
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.
