A Georgia boater found himself surrounded by what looked like an alligator traffic jam — dozens of gators clustered around a small vessel in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge.
Here's what to know
The footage came from Instagram, where the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service shared video from its verified @usfws account of a boater easing through a tightly packed group of alligators in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. You can see dozens of gators popping up out of the water, as Jurassic Park music played in the background.
The agency said, "It's best to avoid going through congregations like this, but sometimes that isn't an option."
The agency said the boater handled it properly by keeping hands and feet inside the boat, not trying to feed the animals, staying calm, moving slowly and quietly, and leaving space around the alligators.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service also noted that "Since the swamp became a refuge in 1937, there hasn't been a single alligator attack here."
More background
Nothing in the clip suggests unusual behavior; the alligators are acting as wild animals do in a protected swamp.
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People who boat, paddle, fish, or visit for wildlife viewing can find themselves close to animals whose behavior may become unpredictable at short range. When the setting is crowded or tight, the margin for error shrinks.
What can be done?
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service advises visitors to review refuge safety guidance before they arrive.
If you end up near alligators, keep your hands and feet inside the boat, leave as much distance as possible, keep your movements controlled, and do not try to feed them.
Protected areas may feel easy to access because they have trails, launches, and visitor information, but they are still wild places first.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said, "But respect is non-negotiable - these are apex predators, and they're essential to the health of the entire swamp."
Where can I learn more?
These stories show how quickly alligator encounters on the water or in parks can become dangerous. They follow boaters, tourists, and researchers as they deal with what can happen when people get too close.
• In Florida, tourists lost control of a kayak near an alligator resting place.
• At a national park, tourists got dangerously close to an alligator with children nearby.
• In Everglades National Park, tourists lay next to a giant crocodile, ignoring the risk.
• Across recorded cases, many alligator bites happened after people took avoidable risks.
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