LAKELAND, Fla. --- Just another day in the Florida wild.
Alex Figueroa said he was taking a walk at the Circle B Bar Reserve in Lakeland Wednesday morning, when he spotted a group of people watching something along the trail.
He said he was in shock when he saw a 10-12 foot alligator sitting along the bank, with another gator in it's mouth.
"I've never seen a gator eating another gator," Figueroa said.
He said they watched for at least an hour before the gator started moving, thrashing the other gator back and forth in its mouth.
Another photographer, Bobby Wummer from Palm Beach Gardens said he assumed the smaller gator was an old kill because it smelled.
"It was just exciting, just amazing to watch," Wummer said.
Figueroa said some of the other photographers were talking during the video but he said he couldn't say a word.
"That's how shocked I was," he added.
Figueroa posted the video, which over 900,000 views, on YouTube Wednesday.
Gary Morse, Florida Fish and Wildlife, said there are 1.3 million alligators in Florida and this time of the year is the beginning of mating season. He said gators become more active and aggressive but not typically towards people.
"There is a clear message when we see alligators acting aggressive between one and another, that's between them. Don't try to interact with them, just observe," Morse said.
According to the FWC website, gator attacks are very rare. Florida averages five unprovoked bites a year and the last death was 2007 in Oldsmar.
To keep visitors safe Polk County has closed the trail near where the gator fights have occurred. They said the trail will be re-opened when mating season ends.