MULBERRY, Fla. — A gator was found relaxing next to a woman's car and hissing at people walking by, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office.
Deputies received a call from a woman in Mulberry after she found a huge gator sitting in a comfortable spot next to her car in her yard, according to a post on X from the sheriff.
The gator, who looked to be almost the length of the woman's car, was caught hissing at neighbors who walked past the house. He didn't move until a trapper came to take him from the yard while deputies kept "an eye on the dude."
The gator is being taken to Gatorland Orlando, where he can coexist with other gators and find his comfortable spot there instead of in someone's yard.
Gatorland Orlando commented on the post, saying, "So happy he’s coming to live with us! We can’t wait to meet him!!"
FWC says people concerned about a gator in their area should call FWC's toll-free Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 866-FWC-GATOR (866-392-4286).
In addition, the agency says Florida residents should abide by the following precautions when spotting a gator in their area.
- Keep a safe distance if you see an alligator.
- 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.
For more information on alligators, click here.