Nature Caught on Camera: Frame-by-Frame Photos Show Heron Devouring Alligator

CLICKORLANDO ^ | December 8, 2020 | Stacy Shanks

[nickcarraway]

Sequence captured on bank of Lake Apopka

When it comes to nature in Florida, expect the unexpected.

You never know what you might stumble across, and a sequence of photos showing Great Blue Heron devouring a juvenile alligator proves it.

Danny Gilliam shared photos on his Facebook page on Dec. 6, showing a “large juvenile alligator” being eaten in whole by a Heron on the bank of Lake Apopka.

Honestly, it’s mesmerizing and shocking, and many on social media agreed because his post went viral with more than 71,000 shares as of Tuesday morning.

One might think alligators have the upper hand and can stand up to anything, but the giant bird won this battle.

What will Florida wildlife showcase for us next? You can share your photos with us at

[nickcarraway]

[Viking2002]

Nature at it's finest: some days, you get the bear. Other days, the bear gets you.

[Defiant]

Florida Bird is just like Florida Man.

[Berlin_Freeper]

Eat or be eaten.

[fr_freak]

Good Lord. Wouldn’t the “food” be biting and clawing all the way down? And for a while after?

[ETL]

Wow!
We actually have Blue Herons on occasion in Central Park here in Manhattan NY.
Don’t know about baby gators, though, unless someone dumps one in one of the lakes or ponds.
Do have large snapping turtles here.

[ETL]

[ETL]

[Mr. Blond]

Still dinosaurs.

[ETL]

Wouldn’t the “food” be biting and clawing all the way down? And for a while after?

See Post 8.

[DesertRhino]

He was weak. Should have fought harder.

[McGruff]

Rolaids!

[Mozzafiato]

WTF? Is that a snake that has clawed its way out?

[ETL]

It’s actually something called a “snake eel”.

https://www.livescience.com/snake-eel-bursts-out-of-heron.html

[fso301]

Lots of video on YouTube of herons eating ducklings, pigeons, rabbits, snakes, etc.

[odawg]

I assume he won’t have to eat for another three months.

[texas booster]

BTTT

[randita]

Wish they’d down a dozen or so of the pythons.

[ops33]

I thought the same thing. The heron must have killed the alligator first but I wonder how it did that.

[ETL]

The heron must have killed the alligator first but I wonder how it did that.

Nope. Herons' motto is, swallow first, ask questions later.

Post 8 above illustrates that point pretty well..