WESLEY CHAPEL, Fla. (WFLA) – Audacious alligators seem to be everywhere. It’s mating season, which means gators are on the move – and more aggressive than normal.
This time a 6’10″ and 170-pound gator visited a local car dealership. Dorian Sinclair works at the dealership and immediately took out his cell phone to record the alligator.
“I want to, I want to capture every single moment,” Sinclair told News Channel 8. “You don’t see every single day something like that.”
The gator was nestled right in between certified pre-owned vehicles, apparently looking for love in all the wrong places.
How staff found the gator
A potential customer called the dealership to say he’d arrived looking to buy a car – only to receive a surprise. The customer saw the gator and took off.
“The customer pass by and say, ‘Hey, you guys have a gator,’” Sinclair said as he recalled the conversation. “You guys have a gator in your lot.”
Trapper Mark Moniz said this is the first time he’s trapped an alligator at a car dealership. Moniz received the call to take the gator away. He arrived with his tools: A poll, rope and electrical tape to close the gator’s mouth shut.
“Just pay attention to him and what he’s doing, and you’ll have no issues with him,” Moniz explained.
The trapper waited for the gator to get tried before making his move.
What you need to know about alligators
As many as two million alligators live in Florida. “Wherever there’s water, there’s a good chance there’s an alligator there,” Moniz said.
Recently we’ve reported on a gator in a Lakeland family’s pool. There was the uninvited house guest climbing someone’s front door. We also shared video of two gators fighting in a field.
“When they get too close to you, you better call the specialist, the people who know how to handle these animals, and that’s exactly what we did,” Sinclair said.
You shouldn’t worry too much about getting bit by a gator because experts say they primarily eat fish, snakes and turtles.
While there have been unprovoked attacks on humans, they are rare. There are about seven unprovoked bites a year. Your chance of being seriously injured by a gator is about one in 2.4 million.Be sure to let your friends and family know it’s currently alligator mating season. HERE ARE SAFETY TIPS.WHAT OTHERS ARE CLICKING ON RIGHT NOW:
- Loud sex leads to arrest for woman with neighbors struck by cancer
- Motorists stop to rescue 2 women after car drives off ramp, plunges 50 feet
- VIDEO: Vehicle hits Largo police cruiser, leaves scene
- Video of man chased from Target goes viral
- Girl, 11, abducted from school bus stop, killed
- Lightning play in New York Friday; News Channel 8 hosting watch party
- Life Hacks for Mom: Applying makeup for a fresh look throughout the day
- >>Back to the homepage for breaking news and the latest headlines
