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Animals | March 26, 2022 8:56 AM | hangbony

Crane goes toe-to-toe with alligator on Florida golf course

At the Eagle Creek Golf Club in Orlando, a Sandhill crane takes on an alligator in a new video.

While standing just inches away from the gator, the crane extends its wings, ostensibly keeping it off the cart path.

These aren’t the first videos we’ve seen like this. In fact, it occurs more frequently than you might imagine.

In 2017, a video leaked showing a crane and an alligator fighting at a Jenson Beach golf course.

“Sandhill cranes aren’t easily scared, but they do have a secret w.ea.pon a.gainst alligators,” Savannah Boan, Gatorland’s Crocodilian Enrichment Coordinator, revealed. “Because alligators are naturally terrified of humans, how will I appear if I do this? I have the appearance of a large human.”

“They’re opportunistic predators, so they’ll grab one if they get close, but in a situation like that, where there’s a small alligator like that and a huge looking Sandhill crane, the alligator’s always going to be like, ‘Oh my gosh, that’s a monster, I’ve got to get out of here,” says the alligator.

While the cranes may not be disturbed, Boan c.autioned that alligator mating season has begun, and you should be cautious.

“Alligators are more a.ggres.sive, particularly smaller female alligators, because they’re seeking for males and nest locations.”