Watch: Jurassic Gator Creates Stir At Florida Nature Preserve

LAKELAND, FL — Alligator sightings in Florida are about as common as sunny days. But getting up close and personal with a gator that looks more like a Steven Spielberg creation than an actual living being isn’t exactly ordinary.

Visitors to Lakeland’s Circle B Bar Reserve, however, recently got more than an eyeful courtesy of an alligator that decided to stretch its legs on a warm January day. Described as “massive,” “monstrous” and even “Jurassic” by some, the beast created quite a stir when it crossed a hiking path in the 1,267-acre Polk County nature preserve.

“I love Circle B,” Kim Joiner posted on Facebook along with a video that captures the beefy critter in action. “Nature at its best.”

Joiner’s video shows the giant gator slowly but surely crossing the trail. A group of preserve visitors are seen quite close to the critter, taking shots and footage of their own.

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While seeing smaller gators is practically an everyday occurrence in the Sunshine State, especially in warmer weather, spotting jumbo critters is more of a rarity. Even so, a similar gator also made waves a year or so back when it was spotted on a golf course in Englewood stretching its legs. Named Goliath by the folks at Myakka Pines Golf Club, that hefty creature became a local celebrity of sorts. A T-shirt was even created in its honor.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reports female alligators rarely grow bigger than 10 feet long. Males can grow “much larger.” The record in Florida is 14 feet, 3-1/2 inches. That male was found in Lake Washington in Brevard County. Back in October, a 765-pound, 13-foot creature named “Lumpy” was bagged in North Florida.

Alligators and all reptiles tend to be more active in warmer months, FWC spokesman Gary Morse told Patch. “The body temperature and activity levels of alligators and other reptiles is directly related to the temperature of their surroundings.”

See also: Florida Alligators: What You Need to Know

Even though it’s January, the Tampa Bay area has witnessed a string of days with highs in the upper 70s to low 80s. That trend is expected to continue until much later in the month, which might mean more alligator sightings are just around the corner.

To help people stay safe around alligators, the state has created an educational brochure that Morse recommends all residents and visitors check out.

“It’s imperative that people become informed about alligators and alligator safety,” he said. “Go to our website at MyFWC.com and read the Living With Alligators brochure.”

For more information about visiting the Circle B Bar Reserve, visit the Polk County Environmental Lands Program online.

To see the gator that caused the stir in action, check out the video below.

Screenshot and video used with permission of Kim Joiner