How a ‘loitering’ alligator made its presence known in Florida’s burger wars
A six-foot alligator was found “loitering” in the parking lot of a Wendy’s near Tampa on Wednesday.
According to the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office, deputies got a call about a gator outside the Wendy’s on Commercial Way in Spring Hill. Officers, with assistance from Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, wrangled the gator, using what appears to be electrical tape binding its legs and snout.
The gator was then “taken into the custody of the FWC,” deputies posted on social media.
“What are the charges? Trespassing?” inquired one Facebook follower.
The incident brought to mind a recent debate we had concerning who has the best burger among the fast-food restaurants? Miami-based Burger King? McDonald’s? In this particular discussion, it appears one South Florida man and this gator both prefer Wendy’s. Apparently, McDonald’s’ new limited time Chicken Big Mac did not land on this gator’s radar.
What happens next?
It wasn’t clear what would happen to the alligator. But according to the FWC, Florida has about 1.3 million alligators in all 67 counties “and they inhabit all wild areas of Florida that can support them.”
Many people on the social media post fretted that the captured gator may be euthanized. While some captured gators may get donated to zoos or such wildlife facilities, relocated alligators often try to return to the capture site that attracted them in the first place.
Relocating the gator to a remote area has its own problems, according to the wildlife commission.
“These remote areas already have healthy alligator populations, and the ones that already live there have established social structures. The introduction of a new alligator to these areas would likely cause fighting, possibly resulting in the death of a resident alligator or the introduced alligator,” according to the state agency.
To report nuisance alligators contact the FWC at 866-392-4286.
This story was originally published September 1, 2022 at 10:28 AM.
