Man Approaches Too Closely, Alligator Reacts! While this behavior is unusual, an alligator might give chase if it feels threatened or cornered, especially if the person gets too close to its territory, nest, or young. Alligators may react this way if they have been fed by humans before, associating people with food and becoming more aggressive. Sometimes, during mating season, male alligators become more territorial, making them more likely to exhibit defensive behaviors like chasing intruders a