Can you really escape an alligator if you run in a zigzag

Much like the cheetah, the alligato­r is an incredibly fast runner. Perhaps youve seen one rise up on its long, muscular legs and sprint 500 yards (457 meters) across a wide-open field after fleeing prey.

No? Youve never witnessed such a thing? What youve probably witnessed is somethi­ng like this: Youre standing by a lagoon, checking out a pelican, when you notice two small bumps that protrude from the water. After you take note of the "Dont Feed the Alligators" sign, you put two and two together and decide those bumps are the eyes of said creature lazily floating in the lagoon. Youre frightened for a moment, but then you remember the classic adage: You can escape an alligator if you run in a zigzag. And this brings you comfort.

But should it? This saying, which is so old and so widespread that its virtually impossible to determine where or why it was ever started, implies a couple of things: One, it implies that an alligator is likely to chase you a long distance on land. Two, it implies that alligators can run faster than humans at least when theyre running in a straight line.

The truth is, although alligators are frighteningly quick, theyre not cheetah fast and they dont like to run long distances. Its very rare for an alligator to chase a human on dry land. And the average human could easily outrun an alligator, zigzagging or not it tops out at a speed of around 11 miles per hour (18 kph), and it cant maintain that speed for very long.

More importantly, gaining on prey via a long sprint is not the alligators attack tactic. The alligator prefers to sneak up on its prey in the water. Its a much faster swimmer than runner it can swim 20 miles per hour (32 kph).And its silent as it moves through water. Its eyes are set on top of its head, so it can swim while watching whats happening on the surface. It can also remain underwater for extended periods of time and hold its breath for up to one hour.

So sure, you could probably escape an alligator if you ran in a zigzag. You probably also could escape one if you ran in a straight line. But the likelihood that an alligator would ever chase you on dry land is so low that the old adage is more joke than genuine advice. It simply doesnt apply.

Alligators wont run you down on the street. But th­ey will sneak up on you in the water. Although it feels like an unfortunate surprise for the victim, the alligators style of attack­ is very predictable. It latches onto its prey and begins what is known as the death roll. It rolls over and over until its prey is dead, usually by drowning but occasionally from loss of blood.

The alligator then juggles the prey around in its mouth so that it can toss it down its throat. The massive jaw that allows it to hang onto its prey so securely also prevents it from easily chewing and swallowing. This is one reason why larg­e prey presents a problem for an alligator. To eat something large, the alligator must rip pieces from the prey and swallow them separately. And it doesnt like that task.

If you think an alligator is approaching you, run. It doesnt matter if you run in a zigzag or a straight line. You should be able to easily outrun an alligator. If it seems to be gaining on you, dont panic. Alligators not only have little endurance, but they also dont really care to pursue their prey. If an alligator misses its first opportunity to grab its victim, it typically moves on to something else.

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If youre caught unaware at the ed­ge of the water or in the water, which is a more likely scenario, you have less chance to evade the alligator. In the water, the alligator has home field advantage; its got you right where it wants you. So a water attack is a worst-case scenario. If you feel the alligators jaw clamp down on you, resist. Dont waste time trying to pry its jaw open, which is nearly impossible. Instead scream, splash and generally create as much confusion for the alligator as possible. As soon as you can get a clear shot, drive your thumb or fingers directly into its eye. This is the most sensitive area of the alligators body, and the combination of pain and surprise should be enough to cause the alligator to release you.

Occasionally, a bad-tempered alligator may not give up the fight. As a last ditch effort, you may want to play dead. The alligator releases dead prey as it prepares to maneuver it back into its throat. This can provide you the opportunity to escape. Its a risky plan, however, and if the alligator has you in the water, you should do everything possible to prevent it from going into a death roll.

The words "death roll" dont sound good, do they? Its probably best to avoid a meeting with an alligator altogether.

Just because alligators have no natural desire to eat us for dinner, doesnt mean we dont need to be cautious in their presence. If you live or are vacationing in alligator country, there are some ways to decrease the likelihood of an unpleasant encounter.

Many human victims of alligator attacks are small children who are wading or playing in water without adult supervision. Alligators may attack because theyre hungry, but thats not the most common reason. As humans continue to encroach on wildlife habitat, reducing the alligators natural food sources, its expected that these types of attacks may increase. The two main reasons that an alligator attacks a human are because its protecting its territory or its angry.

An adult male is territorial during mating season, which is early- to mid-summer. If he feels threatened or startled, he may attack. A female with her young may attack if she views a human as a threat to her offspring. In fact, attacks often occur when a human tries to capture or pet young alligators, not realizing that mom is nearby. Many attacks occur as a result of people teasing or trying to capture alligators. Throwing sticks and rocks at alligators may seem harmless, but doing so creates a dangerous situation for both the person and the alligator.

How do you enjoy yourself in areas where alligators may be present? Swim in areas where the water is clear and the banks are well groomed. Alligators may be lurking in areas where the water is murky and the banks are overgrown with weeds or brush. No matter how inviting the water, it makes sense to avoid it during times when alligators are most active. They typically feed at dusk and through the night, and may still be active at dawn.

If you have children or small pets with you, keep them away from the waters edge. Only allow them into the water if you or another adult are present to supervise them (or better yet, dont allow them in the water at all). Also, if youve been fishing, dont clean the fish at the waters edge or throw the discarded parts into the water.

Finally, if you see an alligator, get out of the water. Warn others in the area, and no matter how small the alligator is, dont attempt to pet, feed or capture it. By following these tips you shouldnt have to worry whether youll run in a zigzag, up a tree or down a hill to avoid an alligator.