Deputy Wheaton's Gator Call 2021

You may have seen this gator in a few viral TikToks recently, but it doesn’t get better than this angle from Deputy Wheaton’s body cam! 🐊On March 31, #teamHCSO and MyFWC Florida Fish and Wildlife received a call at 8:45 a.m. regarding an alligator under a parked car at an apartment complex in Tampa. The caller advised there was a pond nearby, but this was no small gator… it was 10’2”!!! FWC dispatched a contracted nuisance alligator trapper to transfer the alligator to an alligator farm.The gator was not harmed and fortunately, no one was injured.People with concerns about an alligator should call FWC’s toll-free Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 𝟴𝟲𝟲-𝟯𝟵𝟮-𝟰𝟮𝟴𝟲IT’S THAT TIME OF YEAR — it’s mating season and in general, gators become more visible and active during spring and summer! When temperatures rise, their metabolism increases, and they start looking for food.HCSO and FWC want to make sure you know what to do in the event you find yourself in a similar situation as this one! 🚨 Keep a safe distance 🚨 Keep your pets on a leash and away from the water’s edge🚨 Swim only in designated swimming areas during the daylight (gators are most active between dusk and dawn)🚨 NEVER feed a gatorYou can learn more at MyFWC.com/Alligator#HillsboroughCounty #FloridaGator #Alligators #FWC #FloridaFishAndWildlifeConservation #HCSO #HCSOd1 #Gator #Aligator

Posted by Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office on Tuesday, April 6, 2021