2007-02-20 05:25:53 · 17 answers · asked by sadnapersaud 2 in Pets ➔ Reptiles
They are not marathon runner, just move out of their strike range, running, they are not faster than people, and can see you running in a zig zag. The fact of the matter is that Alligators are ambush predators, and they hunt from the water. They will not deliberately chase you unless you are an impending threat, as soon as you are out of their range, they will back down. Wild alligators are much more likey to turn and run from you.
If you feel that you need to outrun them, RUN IN A STRAIGHT LINE. The alligators strike in a sideways fasion, if you are zig zagging, you are staying right in their vision, and slowing yourself down. You will probably only have to go 50 feet then they will give up.
Bear in mind that the alligators have side mounted eyes and short legs. They can't see straight ahead well, and they cannot run with any kind of endurance. They are excellent strikers and very quick over a short distance, but they are not going to persue you beyond a defensive range. Alligators are oportunistic feeders and do not "hunt" in the traditional sense, they lay in wait for something to come into strik range. When they stalk, they creep up on things and wait till they can lunge and grab it.
2007-02-20 06:16:50 · answer #1 · answered by MRHickey 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Don't think that running zigzags will help, because what's a deer or raccoon or anything gonna do when a gator comes out of the water while it's drinking? It's gonna *drumroll* zigzag!
An alligator will NOT chase you on land. Simple as that. They're what's called an ambush predator, they don't run down their food, they wait for it to come to them. Also, alligators don't look at people as food items, so in MOST cases, won't threaten a person at all.
A few things will change this. A female guarding her nest has a specific safety perimeter. She will chase you to a certain point, and stop.
A BIG male will defend his beach for a short period of time during breeding season. Again, will chase to a certain point, and stop.
An alligator that has been fed, will approach people for food, but this is not chasing, typically it's done at a liesurely pace, and this is what causes 95% of alligator attacks in Florida.
Make yourself look big, let it know you're not food. Most of the time, all an alligator attack involves is a bite. If you fight back, you're too much work, and the alligator won't want you.
So to put it simply, you don't NEED to outrun an alligator.
Edited to add.....
Running in zigzags is for when someone's shooting at you.
2007-02-20 17:59:41 · answer #2 · answered by gimmenamenow 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well I have an alligator and because they can't see directly in front of them or behind, I would run straight ahead. Running zig zag, is what they do. My alligator can't walk in a straight line, and if he does he will walk right into the wall. They are hella fast runners, but not for a long time. They do have a lot of speed on them even though they might be big. But question for you, why would you need to run away from one? Mine usually runs away from me if I get too close to it. If my cats get too close it just sits there.
2007-02-21 23:53:23 · answer #3 · answered by blueicefaire 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Alligators are much faster than humans on the short stretch. However, they don't turn well or quickly when they are running. Don't run in a straight line. You still are going to be very lucky to get away if they are close but that is the best thing you can do.
Just for reference, bears have shorter front legs than back ones. Makes them very fast climbers (except grizzlies, their claws aren't good for climbing) and fast uphill. However, down a steep hill they have trouble stopping without rolling face first. A sudden turn while running downhill from one will almost always send them tumbling.
2007-02-20 13:38:33 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
It is actually hard to get a gator to chase you! Don't you ever watch 'Mythbusters'?
Ignore the 'zig zag' advice- it will slow you down, and they run in a jerky zig-zaggy motion anyway. Run in a straight line away from the water's edge or nest.
The deal is that it just plain won't chase you for more than a few yards! They are ambush hunters, not chasers.
2007-02-21 01:01:03 · answer #5 · answered by Madkins007 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I learned this in third grade, it is a fact if an alligator chases you, they don't have a concept of zig zag because of their peripheral vision, so go sideways, at an angle, diagonal, criss cross, and theres no way that alligator is going to keep up with you, they dont know how to run zig zag, and their turning capabilities are severely poor.
2007-02-20 13:34:43 · answer #6 · answered by Eddy O 2 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Like everyone says, zigzag like crazy. And as far as I know, alligators can't climb trees, so climb up something. If he does catch up, his opening-the-mouth muscles aren't nearly as strong as his chomping down muscles, so hold his mouth shut or tie it.
I'm not sure if this is also true for crocs' jaws.
2007-02-20 14:20:59 · answer #7 · answered by Vixen 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Well what i heard was that they are pretty damn fast but not very flexible so if you run in big zig zags they will try and follow your path but because they are not very well able to swerve they will lose you very quick
2007-02-20 13:34:34 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
The hell with running, climb a tree!
2007-02-22 15:07:00 · answer #9 · answered by preacher55 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All you have to do is be faster than the person you're with!
If you're serious, drop something you're carrying to distract it. Works with bears, too.
2007-02-20 13:30:27 · answer #10 · answered by canela 5 · 4⤊ 1⤋