A Florida wildlife clip is making people do a double take: Instead of an alligator stalking the shallows, a great blue heron is the one doing the swallowing. The unsettling scene flips a familiar food-chain script, and it also offers a glimpse into just how adaptable wildlife can be in landscapes increasingly shaped by people.
Here's what to know
According to the OP in a Reddit thread, herons are opportunistic feeders and can take a broad range of prey. The images were taken by wildlife photographer Matthew Blake (@matthew_blake_photography) and posted on Instagram.
In the images, the heron is seen picking up the young alligator and moving around with it in its beak. In an Instagram caption, Blake described capturing the heron with its wing outstretched, holding the gator: "Its powerful body braces against the impact of landing, one leg extended forward, feathers still rippling from the descent just moments after snatching its prey. … Dinosaurs still exist!"
Many users in the Reddit comments compared the image to the dinosaur days.
One user said, "Dinosaur on dinosaur violence." Another commented, "Dinosaur on pseudosuchian violence. A rerun of the Late Triassic."
Others were quite impressed with the image.
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A user said, "What a stunning, graceful shot!"
Instagram commenters were equally awed by the images, with one noting, "When this picture popped up, I thought I was looking at some sort of a monster emerging and the depths of woods. This is one of the most amazing photos I've ever seen!" Another wrote, "You think gators are bad-a**, then you've never met a Great Blue Heron!"
As dramatic as the footage looks, predation like this is a normal part of how ecosystems function and the necessary relationship between predators and prey.
Where can I learn more?
Seeing an animal hunt and eat in the wild can be an amazing thing to witness, especially when it's such a rare sight.
• In the Everglades, a Florida alligator swallows an invasive python in rare footage.
• In Florida, Burmese pythons can swallow deer and alligators whole, alarming researchers.
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