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Study shows alligators eat sharks; Florida experts weigh in

Study shows alligators eating sharks
Posted at 8:57 PM, Oct 18, 2017
and last updated 2017-10-19 06:40:30-04

Are sharks becoming a common snack for American alligators? Researchers say yes.

There are pictures recently taken at the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge in Sanibel, Fla., to prove it.

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Kenan Harkin, a gator expert with Camp Kenan, says it's not uncommon for sharks and stingrays to make their way into freshwater bodies.

 

"Sure they're up in Loxahatchee as long as they can get up from the Intracoastal," said Harkin.

He says there's a specific kind of shark making its way into gator territory.

"Bullsharks do tolerate freshwater, can get into rivers, and freshwater river. Alligators will sometimes rarely wander into brackish water, they cannot stay for long," said Harkin.

Alligators have been spotted eating sharks in Georgia and Florida.