While doing his morning exercise, a Miami Dade resident in Florida saw something that made him stop dead.
Just outside the Homestead Sports Complex was a massive 11-foot alligator that hunters described as “like something out of Jurassic Park.”
“This is the largest alligator that has been captured in Miami Dade County in several years,” said a spokesperson for Pesky Critters, a local wildlife control service. news week. “[The resident] He was very startled and called the police.
Pesky Critters were also called to the scene. “After a major battle of the alligator repeatedly lunging at owner Todd Hardwick, they successfully captured the alligator with additional help from local law enforcement to secure the area while arguing with this alligator,” Pesky Critters said.
Footage of the incident, shared by Pesky Critters, shows the impressive reptile gnashing its jaws and lashing its tail at Hardwick and his team. “That was close!” they said.
Florida is home to more than 1.3 million alligators, according to the state Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The reptiles are found mainly in swamps, bogs, rivers, and wetlands, but at this time of year, that is, during the alligator mating season, they often enter residential areas in search of food and mates.
“Alligators are extremely active right now and residents need to be vigilant and alert,” Pesky Critters said.
The average size of an American alligator, estimated by the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, is 8.2 feet for females and 11.2 feet for males. However, any alligator over 4 feet can pose a threat to people, pets, and property.
Pesky Critters said the Homestead Sports Complex, where the 11-foot alligator was captured, is often used to host children’s soccer games and is right near a school and local neighborhoods. “Definitely a much-needed catch and ‘nuisance’ alligator in the area,” they said.
To stay safe around these apex predators, Hardwick gave some simple advice: “I always tell everyone that if you see an alligator, you need to avoid it, you know, stay 25 feet away from it, and you need to call the authorities.” and get the gator team out before anything happens.”
He continued: “If you have a dog, keep it on a leash and stay 20 feet from the water’s edge so the alligator doesn’t try to catch it. Avoid heavily vegetated areas around the water because that’s where the alligator will be hiding.
“And above all else, don’t feed alligators. Once you start feeding them, you condition them to go near people, and that’s when they become dangerous.”
