A woman thought she was filming a peaceful swim in a river to show her friends, until she realized she wasn't alone in the water. Living in Florida, Tiffany Raulerson is no stranger to the state's abundant wildlife, but while bathing in the Suwannee River, she spotted a fish jumping out of the water that left her stunned. Raulerson had been filming an aesthetic clip for her friends when her plans quickly changed at the sight of a rare sturgeon directly across from her.
There are about 27 species of sturgeon around the world, with more than half classified as critically endangered, Newsweek previously reported. Raulerson likely saw a Gulf sturgeon. An article from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission states the Suwannee River is home to the largest population of Gulf sturgeon in Florida.
The sighting happened during one of Raulerson's frequent visits to the river with her family, a place she told Newsweek holds special significance for them. While Gulf sturgeon are a familiar sight in the area, the timing of the encounter and the fact that she managed to capture it on video made the moment stand out. Raulerson shared the footage on her TikTok account @tiffanyraulerson6 on September 8, which has since had over 38 million views.
After witnessing the fish leap out of the water, Raulerson paused and turned toward the camera with her jaw dropped. She wrote on the screen, "Ain't no way, man." "These creatures are actually quite common in the Suwannee River, and it's not unusual to spot them," she told Newsweek. "What made this particular instance noteworthy was the timing and the fact that I managed to capture it on camera." Sturgeon have existed since the age of the dinosaurs and several species can be found in North America.
Gulf sturgeon can grow to about 6 to 8 feet long and weigh nearly 200 pounds, making an unexpected encounter with one particularly startling for someone in the water. Despite their intimidating appearance, sturgeon do not view humans as prey. Their diet consists primarily of small aquatic organisms, and they generally pose little threat to swimmers.
However, some sturgeon can leap from the water, as did the one in Raulerson's video. Their size and speed can make these jumps dangerous if a person or boater is directly in their path. For swimmers who encounter a sturgeon or other large wild animal, the safest response is to give it plenty of space and avoid attempting to touch or chase it.
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