Video shows 'mama gator' charging at Florida photographer

Paynes Prairie alligator rushes at man trying to take pictures

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – A man taking pictures of a large, angry alligator had a close call after he left the boardwalk at Paynes Prairie's  La Chua Trail in Gainesville.

In the video taken from hikers safely on the boardwalk, a mother gator rushes from the water and snaps at the man’s camera and bag. The alligator enters the water, but when the man attempts to retrieve his possessions, the gator rushes at him again. It appears the man safely evaded the gator at the end of the video.

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Angry mama gator defends babies at La Chua Trail at Paynes Prairie in Gainesville. Guy is way too close! Everyone else around this video is on a boardwalk above the gator in a safe location. This gentleman was trying to get a little closer for pics. Much of the trail is not on a boardwalk and gators typically just sun and leave visitors alone. Watch what gator does at 1:24 & 1:42 #florida #wildlife #alligators #notsmart Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rr8QN6dgQAk&t=9s

Posted by Ben Boukari Jr. on Saturday, June 17, 2017

“Guy is way too close!” wrote Ben Boukari Jr. in a Facebook post. “This gentleman was trying to get a little closer for pics. Much of the trail is not on a boardwalk, and alligators typically just sun and leave visitors alone.”

Payne's Prairie is south of Gainesville. Visitgainesville.com advises that hikers view alligators from a distance and stay on the trail. The site warns never to feed alligators because it teaches the gator to look to humans for food.