Why did the alligator cross the road? Watch gator stop traffic to retrieve turtle snack
Why did the alligator cross the road? To get to the other side and devour his turtle snack, of course.
A video showing an alligator stopping traffic to cross the road with a turtle in its mouth has gone viral. The video was posted earlier this month by the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge on Facebook. The wildlife refuge is located in Boynton Beach, Florida, about 25 minutes inland from Palm Beach.
"What a friendly alligator! He was just helping the turtle cross the road," one Facebook user commented on the video.
Managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the wildlife refuge is one of the largest urban wildlife refuges in the country, spanning more than 145,000 acres.
Do alligators eat turtles?
Yes. Alligators are "opportunistic feeders," according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, meaning alligators eat a variety of food sources and adapt to where they are living. Adult alligators eat fish, snakes, turtles, small mammals and birds, while juvenile alligators primarily eat insects, amphibians, small fish and other invertebrates, the commission says.
Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Follow her on X and Instagram @gretalcross. Story idea? Email her at gcross@usatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Watch: Video shows alligator stopping traffic for a turtle snack
