Alligator crushes large turtle shell on Florida course

A man came across an expected sight in Naples, Florida, where he saw an alligator gripping a turtle in its jaws. 

Casey Yabrough heard strange noises while he was on the 14th hole. When he reached the next hole, he saw the alligator with a big turtle in its mouth, according to Fox 35.

"We heard a loud sound, like a gun went off," Yarbrough said. "I've been playing golf for almost 50 years and have never seen anything like this before."

Yabrough estimated the alligator to be around 14 feet long, and the turtle weighed about 50 pounds. 

He heard the sound of the alligator's jaws crushing the turtle's shell, which stunned him.

Alligators are opportunistic eaters, who feed on turtles, snakes, small mammals, birds, fish, and even smaller alligators, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). 

In a related incident, a woman captured photos of a large alligator eating a smaller one, which left her feeling uneasy during her run in Florida. Despite being "creeped out," she warned others about the lurking gator.

For safety around alligators, the FWC provides various tools and tips on its website. The FWC says it is important to be cautious when you face these reptiles in the wild.

"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.