Great blue heron makes meal out of baby alligator

Bird caught on camera eating gator near Viera Wetlands

PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. – It seems that sometimes, a bird can get the better of an alligator.

A wild scene captured on video showed a great blue heron eating a baby alligator at the Viera Wetlands near Melbourne.

The video, recorded by photographer Scott Martin, was shared Thursday on the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's Facebook page.

"The great blue heron 'played' with the little gator for at least 20 minutes before killing and swallowing it," Scott said.

According to the Facebook post, great blue herons eat nearly anything within striking distance, including fish, amphibians, reptiles, small mammals, insects and other birds.

Great blue herons are a common sight in Florida, as are alligators.

Make that one less gator roaming the canals and swamps in the state.

 


About the Author:

Peter Burke returned for a second stint of duty at Local 10 News in February 2014.