WATCH: Massive alligator lets out loud bellow at Polk County reserve

Kaycee Sloan
·2 min read
15
WATCH: Massive alligator lets out loud bellow at Polk County reserve

LAKELAND, Fla. (WFLA) — A massive alligator crossed paths with passersby before diving into a nearby waterway and bellowing at the cameraman in Polk County over the weekend.

WFLA viewer Ken Bergquist was walking on a trail at the Circle B Bar Reserve in Lakeland on Sunday when he spotted the gator. Bergquist captured several videos of the alligator walking and lounging in the water when it began to bellow.

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According to Croc Encounters, alligators can bellow all year round, but it’s more prevalent during mating season when they do it to attract mates. Alligator mating season can start as early as April, but it typically occurs in May or June, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said.

  • Image courtesy of Ken Bergquist
    Image courtesy of Ken Bergquist
  • Image courtesy of Ken Bergquist
    Image courtesy of Ken Bergquist
  • Image courtesy of Ken Bergquist
    Image courtesy of Ken Bergquist

The large gator sighting comes after Croc Encounters relocated a nearly 500-pound alligator from Temple Terrace to Tampa. The gator was living at the area’s abandoned Coca-Cola plant, sparking concern among residents.

In the state of Florida, it’s illegal to kill or harass an alligator without a permit. FWC also advises citizens not to bother or feed the animals.

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Anyone with concerns about an alligator should call the agency’s Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 866-FWC-GATOR (866-392-4286).

Here are some tips the FWC said people should know when dealing with alligators in Florida:

  • Keep a safe distance if you see an alligator.

  • Keep pets on a leash and away from the water’s edge. Pets often resemble alligators’ natural prey.

  • Swim only in designated swimming areas during daylight hours and without your pet. Alligators are most active between dusk and dawn.

  • Never feed an alligator. It’s illegal and dangerous. When fed, alligators can lose their natural wariness and instead learn to associate people with the availability of food, which can lead to dangerous circumstances for yourself and others who could encounter the alligator in the future.

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