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Gator chases Florida man trying to take photo

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — A Florida man had a close call with a gator after he strayed from a path to take a better picture of the amphibian.

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The man left other hikers on the boardwalk of La Chua Trail at Paynes Prairie in Gainesville and encroached on a mother alligator's space as she was sunbathing, according to Ben Boukari Jr., who posted the video on Facebook.

“Guy is way too close,” Boukari wrote on Facebook.

Angry mama gator defends babies at La Chua Trail at Paynes Prairie in Gainesville. Guy is way too close! Everyone else around this video is on a boardwalk above the gator in a safe location. This gentleman was trying to get a little closer for pics. Much of the trail is not on a boardwalk and gators typically just sun and leave visitors alone. Watch what gator does at 1:24 & 1:42 #florida #wildlife #alligators #notsmart Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rr8QN6dgQAk&t=9s

Posted by Ben Boukari Jr. on Saturday, June 17, 2017

As the man reached into his backpack, the gator lunged at him and chomped on his tripod. The reptile continued to inch closer to the man as he stumbled into the bushes.

Think the man learned his lesson? Just watch the video. He clearly didn’t.

The man went back to grab his stuff and within seconds the gator was on the shore ready to attack.