Lt. Roxanne Pohl of the Pinellas Park Police Department received a 911 call on Thursday evening, alerting them to a massive alligator spotted in the vicinity of the Publix grocery store on 49th Street and Park Boulevard.
The alligator was first spotted walking along the sidewalk and, at that time, was observed following all traffic regulations.
After a while, the alligator managed to reach the parking lot. In a Facebook post, the police department humorously speculated that the alligator was perhaps on its way to grab a Pub Sub.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission was notified and dispatched a responder to assist in capturing the alligator, which was subsequently relocated to a nearby water body.
According to the department, there were no injuries sustained by either the alligator or any individuals involved. Florida is home to millions of alligators that can be found in various bodies of water, such as ponds, rivers, swamps, marshes, and lakes.
Although alligator bites are considered uncommon, they do occur every year and can sometimes result in fatalities.
To coexist with alligators, the FWC suggests refraining from feeding them, keeping pets away from the edges of water bodies, maintaining a safe distance, and swimming only in designated areas.
