They may appear cute and cuddly, but as one alligator soon learned, otters can be vicious predators.
These photos show an otter overpowering a juvenile gator and despite the reptile doing its best, it was no match for the fanged weasel-cousin.
The animals were spotted at Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge in Florida,USA where it soon became clear that the otter was in it to win it.
The otter attacked the relatively young gator by biting it over the neck, ensuring it could not turn around and bite back.
After a short struggle, the otter was able to drag the reptile onto a riverbank and out of sight.
It then proceeded to eat the animal alive, validated by the ‘crunching noises’ that could be heard from the bank.
Despite their adorable appearance, otters are the apex predator of many freshwater species.
Although they mainly feed on fish, they often add shellfish, crabs and small mammals to their diet and it is not unheard of that they go for larger animals and reptiles such as juvenile or small alligators.
These photos show an otter overpowering a juvenile gator and despite the reptile doing its best, it was no match for the fanged weasel-cousin.
The animals were spotted at Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge in Florida,USA where it soon became clear that the otter was in it to win it.
The otter attacked the relatively young gator by biting it over the neck, ensuring it could not turn around and bite back.
After a short struggle, the otter was able to drag the reptile onto a riverbank and out of sight.
It then proceeded to eat the animal alive, validated by the ‘crunching noises’ that could be heard from the bank.
Despite their adorable appearance, otters are the apex predator of many freshwater species.
Although they mainly feed on fish, they often add shellfish, crabs and small mammals to their diet and it is not unheard of that they go for larger animals and reptiles such as juvenile or small alligators.
