A Sarasota County resident left the garage open. That led to a 7-foot surprise, cops say.
Floridians should keep their garages closed at all times — that is, unless you’re a fan of scaly surprises.
One Sarasota County resident didn’t heed this warning. Instead, the homeowner stumbled upon a 7-foot alligator in the garage apparently waiting to carpool, according to North Port police.
North Port police said the alligator was taken to a nearby canal. It’s unclear if the gator ever got to its final destination.
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the Sunshine State averaged roughly seven unprovoked alligator bites per year between 2009 and 2019.
FWC strongly advises against untrained residents handling the reptiles. To report nuisance gators, call the FWC’s toll-free number at 866-392-4286.
This story was originally published February 11, 2020 at 9:37 PM.
