A video of an alligator sitting “a little too close for comfort” in a coastal park in southeast Texas has gone viral on TikTok.
The clip was posted by @ham.fishing and has had 1.6 million views since it was first shared on March 23. The video was taken at Sea Rim State Park, according to the location shared in the post.
The footage shows an alligator sprawled on a sandy beach, against a backdrop of waves crashing in just beyond it. The reptile appeared to be chomping down on a snack, which was a bull redfish, the poster said in a later comment.
A caption shared with the post says: “Southeast Texas Beaches, always an adventure.”
Alligator Safety in Texas
As alarming as the scene may be, alligators do live at Sea Rim State Park, which features 5.2 miles of Gulf shoreline and 4,000 acres of marshlands, according to the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD).
Visitors to the park are advised to take precautions if they spot an alligator, and possibly avoid them altogether by only swimming in designated areas. Alligators are more likely to be active at dusk and dawn, the TPWD notes.
Alligators must not be harassed or fed. Feeding alligators in Texas state parks is “not only dangerous, but a violation of state park rules and a Class C misdemeanor punishable by up to a $500 fine,” the department warns.
Visitors are also advised to stay 30 feet away from alligators at all times but if you get too close, you should back away slowly.
“Do not assume that alligators are slow and sluggish. They are extremely quick and agile and will defend themselves when cornered. They rarely chase people, but they can outrun or out swim the fastest person for the first 30 feet,” the TPWD says.
A park employee should be notified straight away if an alligator comes toward you while you’re walking near the water, especially if it comes out of the water. “In many cases, people have fed such alligators,” the department notes.
See the TPWD website for more information on alligator safety tips at Texas state parks.
‘Little Too Close for Comfort’
TikTok users were shocked by the alligator sighting in the latest viral clip.
Carly said, “That’s a biggon'” and maciemars_ agreed, saying “It’s massive.”
LoLo wrote: “Little too close for comfort if ya ask me.”
“Well, crossing off Texas as states to visit,” claimed tatalomeli and misa wrote, “great. sharks and gators. goodbye beaches.”
Obsessed with makeup said: “I didn’t know alligators live in beach water.”
Newsweek has contacted the original poster for comment via TikTok. This video has not been independently verified.
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.