A squirrel and a raccoon were caught on camera risking their lives as they incautiously engaged with a huge alligator in the Florida swamps.
In a post shared on TikTok in March by a local, under the username saltynaplesmama, the fearless squirrel can be seen leaping over the alligator at lightning speed, while the raccoon takes its time before also making its way towards it and checking it out.
Thankfully the alligator remained asleep through the entire video, not noticing the inquisitive raccoon, nor the speeding squirrel, who were both unarmed by the wild encounter.
The clip, which has over 197,700 views, comes with a caption that says: “Wait for it…” Followed by: “That raccoon is me when I see alligators on the trail. The squirrel is… My husband…”
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Most alligators live on the Southeastern coast of the country, mostly in Florida and Louisiana, and they typically live in bodies of water including ponds, lakes, swamps, lakes, and rivers, among others.
Although unprovoked alligator attacks in America are rare, they still do happen, and most of them take place in Florida. These reptiles have a natural fear of humans, according to AZ Animals, and they will usually retreat rather than attack.
However, they may attack when they feel trapped or threatened. That’s why it is advised to keep a safe distance of at least 30 feet away from an alligator.
“In the event that a gator chases you, run in a straight line as fast as possible. If an alligator reaches you, poke at the eyes and generally strike it around the head,” the website says.
The viral video received over 12,500 likes and hundreds of comments on TikTok.
One user, Amanda The Musical, commented: “That raccoon was tempting fate. What I really want to know is how they lost their tail. I’m assuming another gator.”
Sleepysarah said: “My intrusive thoughts really make me wanna hold his wittle hand.” And Kate LB added: “I live in Lakeland and have yet to go here. The way I would try to snuggle a gator… My husband would be so mad.”
Newsweek reached out to saltynaplesmama for comment via TikTok chat and comments. We could not verify the details of the case.
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Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.