PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. – A 12-foot alligator caused some tense moments on a path leading to a Pinellas County school as the beast’s capture was caught on video.
Deputies were called Tuesday morning to Joe’s Creek along 46th Avenue, where the gator — what the sheriff’s office referred to as an “absolute dinosaur” — was reported to be walking on a path that children often take to and from school.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission trappers were soon called in to capture the alligator, helped by several deputies who were “a bit fearful but willing,” the sheriff’s office said on social media.
It took four men to get the huge gator in the back of a pickup truck, the video shows. From there, according to the post, the gator was relocated to an area in South Florida.
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The sheriff’s office warned that if there’s a body of water nearby, chances are an alligator is, too. Though already true, it’s now especially so, given that May is alligator mating season.
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Deputies received a call yesterday morning from a citizen reporting a large gator on a pathway that kids walk through as they travel to and from school. We arrived to find a 12.5 foot gator and promptly called MyFWC Florida Fish and Wildlife for their assistance in relocation. pic.twitter.com/738HA0iIiZ
— Pinellas County Sheriff's Office (@SheriffPinellas) May 15, 2024
FWC says nearly half of all gator attacks happen during breeding or nesting season, offering the following safety tips:
- Keep a safe distance if you see an alligator. If someone is concerned about an alligator, they should call FWC’s toll-free Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 866-FWC-GATOR (866-392-4286), and we will dispatch a contracted nuisance alligator trapper to resolve the situation.
- Keep pets on a leash and away from the water’s edge. Pets often resemble alligators’ natural prey.
- Swim only in designated swimming areas during daylight hours and without your pet. Alligators are most active between dusk and dawn.
- Never feed an alligator. It’s illegal and dangerous. When fed, alligators can lose their natural wariness and instead learn to associate people with the availability of food. This can lead to dangerous circumstances for yourself and other people who could encounter the alligator in the future.
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