Alligator Snarls Traffic On Florida Expressway

TAMPA, FL — Pedestrians may not belong on Tampa’s Veterans Expressway, but that fact didn’t stop one from snarling morning rush hour traffic Wednesday. This particular interloper was a 9-foot gator who strolled onto southbound lanes near the Hutchison Road exit in the Carrollwood area around 6:30 a.m.

Although not too keen on the idea of confronting the confident critter on their own, motorists were quick to report the traffic-stopping alligator to officials. Hillsborough County deputies and Florida State Troopers responded to the scene and determined a trapper was required.

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Keeping the gator – and motorists – safe during the ordeal reportedly required the closing of one lane. It seems the creature found a spot it liked and had no intention of moving along right away.

Trappers, however, were able to successfully and safely remove the alligator from the road, the highway patrol’s Sgt. Steve Gaskins told Patch.

Although the gator’s choice of places to take a stroll was ill-advised, it’s not uncommon for the creatures to take advantage of warmer weather to stretch their legs. Upticks in reports of alligators roaming through neighborhoods, on highways and in other places people don’t think they belong generally occur as temperatures rise.

See also: Florida Alligators: What You Need To Know

“All reptiles are more active in warmer months,” Gary Morse of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said in a previous interview. “The body temperature and activity levels of alligators and other reptiles is directly related to the temperature of their surroundings.”

Florida is home to an estimated 1.3 million alligators. That means they’re likely to be found in all parts of the state, a message FWC tries to share frequently.

“You are likely to find alligators in almost every body of freshwater in the state at some time or another,” Morse said. “Alligators also frequent brackish waters and are sometimes found in saltwater where they will remain for short periods.”

See also: Watch As Horse Attacks Gator At State Park

The first rule of living with gators or visiting a state where they are so abundant, Morse said, is to “never approach an alligator – appreciate it from a safe distance.”

To help people stay safe around alligators, the state has created an educational brochure that Morse recommends all residents and visitors check out. “It’s imperative that people become informed about alligators and alligator safety,” he said. “Go to our website at MyFWC.com and read the Living With Alligators brochure.”

The state has also set up a hotline for people to call to report nuisance alligators. That number is 1-866-FWC-GATOR (866-392-4286).

Photos courtesy of the Florida Highway Patrol