Epic Gator-On-Gator Battle Captured On Video

Editor's note: Be sure to click through the photo gallery below, too!

LAKELAND, FL — A Florida photographer out on an excursion to capture images of osprey and eagles at Lakeland’s Circle B Bar Reserve got more than she bargained for recently.

It seems a pair of alligators decided to get into a battle to the death right before her eyes. Clearly not one to be intimidated easily, Octavia Heart clicked away on her camera and recorded video as the brawl unfolded about 100 feet from where she was standing.

It “was crazy to see,” Heart told Patch.

Heart says she isn’t a professional photographer, but makes a hobby out of filming and documenting wildlife. Springtime, she said, can get a little crazy thanks to mating season, as her photographs demonstrate.

Alligators are indeed more active as the temperatures begin the rise say officials from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

“All reptiles are more active in the warmer months,” FWC spokesman Gary Morse said. “That’s just the cold-blooded creatures’ (way).”

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That increase in activity can lead to an increase in encounters with humans as gators take advantage of this time of year to stretch their legs and see if the grass is greener on the other side of the pond. With that in mind, the state warns residents to appreciate roaming gators from a distance.

For those who like swimming in Florida’s freshwater lakes, ponds and rivers, Morse suggested avoiding heavily vegetated areas. He also warned: “No swimming between dusk and dawn when alligators tend to be active.”

For residents who encounter nuisance alligators, such as those that show up on front door steps, Morse said it’s a good idea to call the state’s hotline. That number is 1-866-FWC-GATOR (866-392-4286).

He also recommends people who live in or visit Florida brush up on their alligator knowledge.

“It’s imperative that people do their homework, go to our website and learn how to handle (sightings),” he said.

To help out, the state offers a downloadable brochure with the ABCs of cohabitating with these reptiles. “A Guide to Living with Alligators” can be accessed from the state’s website.

The Circle B Bar Reserve is a wildlife preserve at 4399 Winter Lake Road in Lakeland. The 1,267-acre property is open daily from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. during standard time and from 5 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. during daylight saving time. It features fishing, hiking and trails and roads for bicyclist, along with lots of wildlife as Heart’s photos attest.

Photos courtesy of Octavia Heart