Fisherman charged at by alligator from South Carolina pond

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SC – A man fishing along the edge of a pond in the Lowcountry of South Carolina was caught off guard Tuesday by a lunging alligator, and the entire incident was caught on video.

Witnesses along the bank of the pond in the usually quiet community of Hilton Head had their phones out when the medium-sized alligator began swimming in the direction of the man.

The video showed the man collecting his fishing pole and slowly retreating from the waterway, but the reptile climbed out of the water and lunged at the fisherman.

The alligator only participated in a short pursuit before the man reached a safe distance away from the predator.

According to the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, alligators are capable of running at speeds of 7.5-9 mph for short distances.

After the encounter, the alligator quickly returned to the pond, where there were no other reports of hostile encounters.

According to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, alligators are commonly found from Texas to North Carolina.

The reptile’s population in the Palmetto State is estimated to be about 100,000, with many in the southern and eastern regions of the state.

DNR officials said feeding alligators can cause the animals to lose their natural fear of humans, and it is also illegal in the state.

“In many cases, fed alligators will begin to approach at the sight of people and may become aggressive in seeking a handout,” staff said in a spring advisory. It’s not clear if the alligator responsible for Tuesday’s incident has been fed by humans.