A video recorded in Florida is leaving thousands speechless: the deep, guttural roar emitted by American alligators during their mating season.
The clip, posted on the Facebook page Matt Devitt Weather with the message "Turn up the volume! This is the sound of alligator mating season," has garnered over 460,000 views and thousands of reactions in just a few days.
The sound captured by user Mark M shows the so-called bellow—a roar or bellow—that males emit to attract females and warn rivals to stay away from their territory.
It's not just any sound: it combines audible frequencies with infrasound below 20 Hz, inaudible to the human ear but capable of traveling up to 500 meters and generating visible vibrations in the water around the animal, a phenomenon known as "water dance."
The images depict two adult alligators at the edge of a body of water, with a metal fence in the background suggesting an urban or park-like environment.
The scene is becoming increasingly common in Florida during these months.
The alligator mating season in Florida lasts from April to June, with May being the month of most activity. During this time, males defend territories of two to three kilometers of water, move into urban areas in search of a mate, and reach their highest levels of aggression and territoriality.
The roars last between 10 and 20 seconds and mainly occur in the mornings. Although both males and females emit them, only males produce significant infrasound, according to scientific research dating back to 1989.
The presence of these reptiles in inhabited areas is a daily reality in the state. A giant alligator over 11 feet long surprised police officers this week in Orange County, near apartment complexes. In Sarasota County, another adult specimen appeared in front of a private residence.
Florida is home to approximately 1.3 million American alligators spread across its 67 counties, the second largest population in the United States. Urban expansion has increased encounters between humans and these animals, especially during the breeding season.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reported 27 attacks in 2025, two of which were fatal, a 12% increase compared to 2024. Since 1948, around 500 attacks have been documented, approximately 30 of them fatal. However, a study from the University of Florida concluded that 96% of the incidents are due to risky human behaviors, such as swimming in areas known for the presence of these reptiles.
Authorities recommend maintaining a minimum distance of 30 meters from any alligator that is vocalizing, as during the mating season, the animal is in its highest state of alert. Swimming in waters inhabited by alligators is one of the most dangerous behaviors a resident or tourist can engage in during these months in Florida.
The likelihood of suffering a serious unprovoked attack is one in 3.1 million, according to the commission itself, but the presence of alligators near homes necessitates heightened precautions over the next two months.
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