PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — In a Facebook post, Pinellas County Sheriff's Office deputies said a gator "gave employees and customers quite the scare" Friday morning at a Walgreens on Seminole Boulevard.
Deputies were reportedly called out to help and were able to trap the little gator before releasing it into Lake Seminole.
"It's a bit early for Halloween frights at storefronts, but this costume-ready critter should stick to haunting the waters of Lake Seminole," deputies stated in the post.
What if gators are in my neighborhood?
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) says Floridians should follow these steps when they are near an alligator:
- 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 an alligator becoming a nuisance and needing to be removed from the wild.
For more information on Alligators from FWC, click here.
