Florida golfer photographs alligator with giant turtle locked in its jaws: 'Never seen anything like this'

The man, who was golfing in Naples, Florida, estimated the length of the alligator to be 14 feet

Alligator charges at Florida couple as they ride in golf cart

A resident of Ave Maria, Florida, recorded a frightening video of an alligator jolting at a couple who was riding in a golf cart. (Source: Denise Prues via Storyful)

A man was recently playing a game of golf when he encountered an alligator that had a turtle trapped in its jaws.

Casey Yabrough was on the 14th hole at a golf course in Naples, Florida, when he heard something unexpected.  

"We heard a loud sound, like a gun went off," Yarbrough told FOX 35 on Monday. 

FLORIDA WOMAN PHOTOGRAPHS ALLIGATOR EATING ANOTHER ALLIGATOR: 'CREEPED ME OUT'

It wasn't until he approached the next hole that he learned where the sound came from.

Alligator - Smiley

A golfer was on the 14th hole in Naples, Florida, when he and his fellow golfers heard a "loud sound, like a gun went off," which ended up being an alligator (not pictured) biting a turtle through its shell. (iStock)

Yarbrough saw what looked like a 14-foot-long alligator with something large in its mouth, Fox 35 reported.

WARNING: Images included in this story may be disturbing to some viewers.

The massive alligator had its jaws around a large turtle that Yarbrough estimated to weigh about 50 pounds, according to the station.

Yarbrough said that the rattling sound he heard was the jaws of the alligator cracking through the turtle's shell.

11-FOOT-LONG 'KING ARTHUR' THE ALLIGATOR SPOTTED AT SOUTH CAROLINA GOLF RESORT WITH MYSTERIOUS HEAD PIECE

Yarbrough was apparently stunned after witnessing this event.

"I've been playing golf for almost 50 years and have never seen anything like this before," he told Fox 35.

An alligator making a meal out of a turtle is not out of the ordinary, because turtles are a common prey for the large reptiles to feed on, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).

gator with blurred blood

Golfer Casey Yarbrough finally realized what the sound was when he came close to the large gator. (Casey Yarbrough)

Adult alligators are known for being "opportunistic feeders," according to the FWC's website.

They will eat turtles, snakes, small mammals, birds, fish and sometimes smaller alligators.

In fact, a woman in Florida recently captured several images of a large alligator devouring a smaller version of itself.

She said the moment left her "creeped out," but she went on with her run, being sure to warn others about the gator that was lurking around the bend.

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  • alligator bites turtle shell

    The turtle was trapped in the jaws of the massive alligator when Yarbrough snapped pictures of the wild encounter. (Casey Yarbrough)

  • large alligator with turtle in mouth

    The Florida golfer estimated the size of the gator to be 14 feet in length. (Casey Yarbrough)

The FWC has a variety of safety tools and tips on its website for anyone who finds themselves in the presence of a nuisance alligator.

"Alligators less than 4 feet in length are not large enough to be dangerous to people or pets, unless handled," says the FWC's website. "You should never handle an alligator, even a small one, because alligator bites can result in serious infection and it’s illegal." 

"If there's an alligator under 4 feet in your swimming pool, on your porch or in a similar situation, call the Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 866-FWC-GATOR (866-392-4286)."

Fox News Digital reached out to the FWC and Casey Yarbrough for comment.

For more Lifestyle articles, visit www.foxnews.com/lifestyle

Sydney Borchers is a lifestyle production assistant with Fox News Digital. 

Authored by Sydney Borchers via FoxNews March 29th 2024