Feeding 150 HUNGRY ALLIGATORS!

next tilapia. I'll let you go for tilapia number two. And let's have another great reaction. Go for it. -JULIA: Oh. -COYOTE: Good. Good launch. High five. That's a slimy fish high five right there. Alright. Another tilapia for you. We will do a double launch. Ready? One two three. Grab another one. This is where the

feeding

frenzy gets really crazy. There you have it, guys. Julia and Coyote's Fish Food Truck is officially open to the public. JULIA: Oh. Big boy here with his mouth open. One two three. -JULIA: Oh. -COYOTE: Score. -Yeah. -Straight into his mouth. JULIA: Let's go.

COYOTE: Oh, look at this guy here. Do you think I can do it well... -Yes. -...your mouth open from him? -Well. -Ready? One two three. Oh, he bounced off his nose. Oh, and that guy back there got it. The American alligator has one of the most intimidating bite forces in the animal kingdom. These

alligators

vary in size, but an alligator that weighs around 300 pounds, like some of the bigger kids you see in the mix, has a devastating bite that will clock in at around 1,500 pounds per square inch. To put it in context, that would make a watermelon explode like chewing on a juicy green grape.

This daily enrichment for

alligators

may seem like a violent cyclone of teeth and destruction, but these animals are very attuned to each other and any accidental bites rarely result in injury during a

feeding

frenzy like this. That was amazing. Julia, you did amazing. How does it feel to have fed the Everglades' most dominant predator? Well, at first I was nervous because they are huge creatures and have a huge diet, but it's cool to see them eating and a lot of jaws going ma, ma, ma. That was pure emotion. Seeing alligators in action is truly an experience that I don't think you can ever forget, right? -No. -COYOTE: Okay.

Why don't we head to the Everglades to watch the sunset and have our last conservation conversation? -Are you ready for that? -Sounds good. COYOTE: American alligators are the guardians of the Everglades, so as the last stop on our adventure, I want Julia to experience the ecosystem they are famous for caring for. This will be her first time entering the glades, and believe me, there is no better way to travel through the grass-saturated fields than on an airboat. Julia, we had a fantastic day together. -Yeah. -And we learned everything I think we could about the world of crocodiles.

What would you say was your favorite part of our adventure? Well, I really liked the beginning. It was really cool to see what it looks like when a new baby alligator hatches from the egg. I also really liked where we fed the alligators. It was really cool to see how they eat and how they behave with each other. So, with this being your first time seeing an alligator, let alone having the opportunity to interact with one, would you say you have a new appreciation for these predatory reptiles? JULIA: Yes. I knew they were really great, but this blows my mind.

I agree. Alligators have always been one of my favorite reptiles. And now that I get to share these cool creatures with you, I think everyone watching will have a new appreciation for why they are so important to the Everglades ecosystem. The predators of our planet are often depicted in culture and media as monsters, often even in their youngest form. But what we must recognize and share with the next generation is that monsters are often created from a misunderstanding of an animal's true nature. Alligators may hunt stealthily and be armed with bone-crushing jaws, but they play a vital role as guardians of the Everglades ecosystem and should be celebrated as heroes in the grand design of our planet.

Throughout the southeastern United States, encounters with these animals are common, especially in Florida. But it's important to remember that humans are not on the preferred menu list. That being said, alligator safety is important. So if you have the opportunity to visit a place where these reptiles may be present, stay in tune with your surroundings. Don't go near the water's edge, don't swim, and certainly don't try to feed or interact if you see an alligator in the wild. Follow these simple steps and your crocodile sighting will be one you'll never forget. I'm Coyote Peterson. And I call Julia María.

Be brave. Stay wild. See you on the next Wild Field Trip.