Current:Home > InvestWatch: Alligator marches down golf course on Florida golf course as mating season nears-Angel Dreamer Wealth Society D1 Reviews & Insights
Watch: Alligator marches down golf course on Florida golf course as mating season nears
View Date:2024-12-23 15:00:38
A Florida golfer was enjoying the sunshine on the green when he spotted something prehistoric-looking.
An alligator at least 10-feet long was marching on the pristine golf course grass in Rotonda West, Florida, on the Gulf Coast.
Local resident Chris Hulback captured the moment on video, finding fascination in the bow-legged creature making his way from one pond to another.
"In Southwest Florida especially, we are living amongst dinosaurs when we see them that big." Hulback told USA TODAY in an interview Monday. "There's something really fun about it."
Between the gator's appearance on land and the tooth stuck in his jaw, Hulback said this is a sign alligator mating season is underway.
Gators galore:Florida airboat flips sending 9 passengers into gator-infested waters, operator arrested
Video shows gator marching on golf course
Hulback recorded the video March 23 on the fairway of the Rotonda Golf & Country Club Palms course.
He said he commonly sees gators in the golf course ponds, in the water or on the bank, but seeing it out in the open like that is rare.
The video shows Hulback carefully drive up next to the gator in the golf cart as it takes slow, clunky steps from hole 11 to hole 10 in search of a mate.
"They don't have quite the advantage on land, so I wasn't overly wasn't overly concerned about the alligator," Hulback said, noting he just let the gator go on his way and did not notify officials. "No reason to harm him whatsoever. He was here long before I was here."
If you look closely, Hulback says, you can see a four-inch alligator tooth wedged in the gator's jaw, likely from a mating season battle.
April kicks off alligator mating season
The gator may seem out of place, but sightings like this are going to be more common over the next few months, especially in Florida, home to approximately 1.3 million alligators.
Alligator mating season starts in April and lasts through June. During this time, males get more aggressive and some kick weaker males out of their turf.
The alligators that get sent packing can travel hundreds of acres of land, making them more likely to turn up in residential pools, golf courses or yards.
Contributing: Lianna Norman, Victoria Brown; USA TODAY Network
veryGood! (94)
Related
- Louisiana mom arrested for making false kidnapping report after 'disagreement' with son
- Horoscopes Today, August 30, 2024
- Man pleads guilty to killing Baltimore tech entrepreneur in attack that shocked the city
- Dancing With the Stars Alum Cheryl Burke Addresses Artem Chigvintsev’s Arrest
- The Masked Singer's Ice King Might Be a Jonas Brother
- Harris says Trump tariffs will cost Americans $4k/year. Economists are skeptical.
- Former California employee to get $350K to settle sexual harassment claims against state treasurer
- Olympian Ryan Lochte Shows 10-Month Recovery After Car Accident Broke His Femur in Half
- Disney Store's Black Friday Sale Just Started: Save an Extra 20% When You Shop Early
- A jury acquits officials of bid-rigging charges in a suburban Atlanta county
Ranking
- 'Gladiator 2' review: Yes, we are entertained again by outrageous sequel
- Ancient mosaic of Hercules nets man prison term for illegal import from Syria
- A jury acquits officials of bid-rigging charges in a suburban Atlanta county
- Court stops Pennsylvania counties from throwing out mail-in votes over incorrect envelope dates
- CFP bracket prediction: SEC adds a fifth team to field while a Big Ten unbeaten falls out
- Police use Taser to subdue man who stormed media area of Trump rally in Pennsylvania
- Winners and losers of the Brandon Aiyuk contract extension
- Maui judge agrees to ask state Supreme Court about barriers to $4B wildfire settlement
Recommendation
-
Jason Kelce Offers Up NSFW Explanation for Why Men Have Beards
-
Michigan's Sherrone Moore among college football coaches without a signed contract
-
2024 Paris Paralympics: Paychecks for Medal Winners Revealed
-
Catholic diocese sues US government, worried some foreign-born priests might be forced to leave
-
Black, red or dead: How Omaha became a hub for black squirrel scholarship
-
Matthew Gaudreau's Wife Madeline Pregnant With Their First Baby Amid His Death
-
Dancing With the Stars Alum Cheryl Burke Addresses Artem Chigvintsev’s Arrest
-
From 'The Fall Guy' to Kevin Costner's 'Horizon,' 10 movies you need to stream right now