Alligators are not an uncommon sight in Florida, and many Floridians are familiar with the ritual of calling in reinforcements to remove a rambunctious reptile. On April 22, an alligator made its way into an unexpected place: an airplane tarmac.
Officials at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa were baffled by an alligator wandering on the tarmac. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission professionals wasted no time in trying to wrangle the 10-foot-long animal, which was sitting near the wheels of a parked airplane.
The Air Force Base shared photos and video of the capture on Facebook. It wasn't the easiest removal, and at one point the gator even ended up between the plane's two sets of wheels. The wild video shows two FWC officers trying to tie topes around the gator's body, tail, and snout before they successfully captured it.
"Our newest toothy Airman has been relocated to a more suitable environment off base," the post read. The animal was relocated to the Hillsborough River, and officials believe that a bigger alligator in the area informally named Elvis is responsible for the new "Airman"'s appearance on the tarmac. "They think Elvis pushed this guy away from home," the post read.
Commenters enjoyed the rare sight, and specifically the rescue. "I'm feeling a little girl power with these two ladies taking care of this beast," one woman wrote. "This is the most Florida post I’ve ever seen," another chimed in.
Regardless of wherever an alligator may end up, always make sure you call in the experts if you have to deal with one personally.
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