A Florida man captured the moment a turtle rode a 10-foot alligator around a pond like it was a 'horse'

• A travel blogger in Florida captured a photo of a turtle riding on the back of an alligator.
• Alligators are known to prey on turtles, but this particular gator apparently couldn't be bothered.

A travel blogger in Florida captured something he'd never seen before in Tampa on Monday: a turtle riding on the back of an alligator.

Jef Henninger posted a photo of the strange encounter on his Facebook page, Traveling with Jef.

"You know you're in #florida when you see a turtle riding a gator around a pond like it's a horse," Henninger wrote alongside the photo.

One commentator wrote, "Florida hitch hikers," while another said, "Ooohhhhh FL" with a laugh-crying emoji.

Henninger confirmed to Insider he'd seen turtles near alligators before, but never riding one. He said the alligator, which was about 10 feet long, eventually stopped near the edge of the pond and the turtle continued to sit on its back. When Henninger left and came back an hour later both animals were still in the same area, however, the turtle was now on a log.

Henninger told Newsweek it's not uncommon to spot alligators near other animals, adding: "Most have a natural fear of humans but other than that, they will usually share their space with birds, turtles, and other animals."

Alligators are considered opportunistic feeders, meaning they'll eat many kinds of prey species as long as they're readily available, according to Florida's Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. That includes fish, snakes, birds, small mammals, and yes, even turtles.

"That's why it's always interesting to see gators so close to turtles and birds — those animals have no idea that they can be dinner at any moment," Henninger told Newsweek.

Alligator activity has also recently picked up in Florida, as they tend to be most active during the mating season from April to June, so local residents typically know to look out for them. State officials have warned residents to be especially careful around ponds and lakes.