Florida cyclist witnesses epic fight between huge alligator and giant Burmese python
A woman riding her bike managed to capture the incredible footage in the Florida swamps.
On August 8, a cyclist pedalling through Shark Valley in the Florida Everglades stumbled upon a scene straight out of a nature documentary.
Alison Joslyn was riding along when she spotted an alligator in the water, with its jaws clamped firmly around a supersized Burmese python. She stopped to watch as the gator wrestled the snake, working it through its 80 teeth in order to swallow the apex predator whole.
“I stayed and watched it for quite a while as it was struggling to eat the python,” Joslyn told Storyful.
Don't try intervening between these two predators! Video caught an alligator battling with an invasive Burmese python in Florida's Everglades National Park. pic.twitter.com/AfbmnqgQYG
— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) August 12, 2025
Burmese pythons aren’t just any snakes in Florida: they’re invasive predators that have been wreaking havoc on the Everglades’ delicate ecosystem for decades. They eat local birds, mammals, and even other reptiles, and given their status as top tier predators, easily outcompete native species.
American alligators are found everywhere from southeast Oklahoma and east Texas, right over to North Carolina and Florida. They are opportunistic predators, meaning that they will eat pretty much whatever they find; their diet includes just about everything in the Everglades, with fish, snakes, turtles, small mammals, and birds all on the menu.
While the females rarely exceed 10 feet in length, males can be much larger: the state record is held by a 14 foot 3-1/2 inch male from Lake Washington in Brevard County FL.
Related stories
Burmese pythons, as mentioned, are an invasive species. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission states that “members of the public may capture and humanely kill nonnative reptiles like Burmese pythons,” adding that “no permit or hunting license is required.”
Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.
Complete your personal details to comment