The best-supported explanation is that the female American crocodile may have been defending a nest—but that is Chris Gillette’s informed hypothesis, not a confirmed cause. The video report does not establish that a nest was present or document a field investigation. Florida wildlife guidance makes nest defense seasonally plausible in late April and May, but it cannot prove what prompted this particular encounter.
What happened near Shark Valley?
A video report published by PerthNow on March 26, 2025, describes a female crocodile snapping and hissing at a male alligator near Shark Valley in the Florida Everglades. The animals traded blows, and the report says they appeared to draw blood.
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Chris Gillette, whom the report identifies as a crocodilian expert, offered the explanation: “I’m assuming the croc has a nest nearby and is defending that from the gator”. The wording matters: he said he was assuming, not reporting a verified nest or confirmed motive. The report also says Gillette described crocodiles and alligators as commonly coexisting peacefully while noting they can be territorial. Those are his comments about the encounter and the animals, not proof of what happened off camera.
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It is a plausible possibility if the encounter occurred during crocodile nesting season, but the available account does not confirm the date of the footage, a nest, or a link between nesting and the animals’ behavior. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) places American crocodile nesting in late April and early May on its American crocodile profile; its broader crocodile and alligator information describes crocodile nesting as late April through May. These are seasonal ranges, not evidence that this female had a nest.
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FWC says American crocodiles lay and bury 20–60 eggs in spring, with hatchlings emerging about 85 days later. That general species information helps explain why an animal might defend a nest, but it does not establish that nest defense caused this filmed clash. Alligators have a different nesting window: FWC places their nesting around late June or early July.
How can you tell a crocodile from an alligator?
Florida is the only place where American alligators and American crocodiles coexist in the wild, according to the FWC. They are separate species, and their ranges and preferred habitats overlap in parts of South Florida.
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| Feature | American crocodile | American alligator |
|---|---|---|
| Snout and teeth | Narrower, tapered snout; a fourth lower-jaw tooth is visible when the mouth is closed. | Broader, rounded snout; no lower teeth are visible when the mouth is closed. |
| Typical color | Generally grayish or brownish gray. | Darker. |
| Habitat in Florida | Primarily brackish or saltwater in southern Florida, including mangrove ponds, coves, and creeks; sometimes found inland in freshwater areas of southeast Florida. | Found much more broadly across Florida and favors freshwater wetlands, though it can also occur in brackish habitat. |
| Nesting season described by FWC | Late April and early May on the species profile; late April through May on FWC’s broader page. | Late June or early July. |
The comparison is based on FWC’s American crocodile profile and species identification and habitat information. These traits explain how both species can occur in Florida and how to distinguish them; they do not reveal why the animals in the video fought.
What should people do around crocodiles and alligators?
Wildlife footage is not a sign that it is safe to approach or imitate an encounter with crocodilians. FWC’s alligator safety guidance recommends keeping a safe distance from alligators, swimming only in designated areas during daylight, keeping pets away from the water’s edge, and never feeding alligators. Keep your distance from crocodiles as well, and do not approach either animal for a closer look or photograph.
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