Alligator vs. Alligator

A couple of weeks ago the water levels at Green Cay were down significantly. With the exposed mud flats came more shorebirds but also another exciting event took place, an Alligator battle. Most casual visitors to the wetlands want to see alligators. Can you blame them considering their vast size and weight coupled with their ferocious stereotype? But really most alligators are docile and slow moving at Green Cay until that is these two gators decided to clash.

Check out the close up of that bite. The two went at it for hours biting each other simultaneously. They would take short breaks and then start again. An epic battle that lasted hours.

At one point during a break one of the alligators made a break for it and retreated to the water. The other gator was quickly on his tracks.

I love these photos with the blood dripping out of the mouth. The second gator has a mouth full of mud.

During this whole epsiode a Great Egret was watching nearby. I wondered if the bird was as intrigued as the multitude of people watching from the boardwalk.

Once back in the water instead of going their seperate ways the two alligators started fighting again. Locking each other in their tight grips.

The two stayed together this way in their alligator origami poses until finally they both tired and swam off in different directions. Both gators were bloodied but seemed okay otherwise. It was a very entertaining day at Green Cay and certainly worth the visit. If you are ever in the South Florida area you should stop by for a short walk. Our 1.5 mile boardwalk isn't very long but it's full of up-close animal encounters like this one.

All photos taken by Arny Landy at Green Cay.