When you live in Florida, seeing gators is a regular occurrence. The pesky carnivores are everywhere, frequently seen on porches and golf courses. Gator calls are so frequent that some law enforcement officers are expert wranglers. Occasionally, a gator will cross a road and need a little assistance with traffic control.
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Aside from live gators trying to cross the road, Florida is famous for other Gators, namely the University of Florida Gators football team. That is probably why Giovanni Rodriguez, who posted the video, thought this gator might be trying to score a touchdown.
If you’re wondering why this gator gets a personal crossing guard to cross a busy roadway, there is a good reason. Alligators are a protected species in Florida. That means they can only be hunted by people with the proper permits. Following US Fish and Wildlife Service guidelines, Florida has instituted an alligator management and control program.
Because these animals can pose a risk to people, the state also maintains a Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program (SNAP). If a gator tries to do more than peaceably cross a road, people can notify the Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 866-FWC-GATOR (866-392-4286). This is a handy number to have whether you are a resident or visitor in Florida.
Gators inhabit areas along the Atlantic Coast, from the Florida Keys to parts of North Carolina. Because the temperatures get colder in NC, you can observe gators sleeping while frozen in ice! This modified form of brumation allows the animals to stay alive during infrequent temperature drops.
Is this gator crossing the road to score a touchdown? We find it hilarious that traffic is stopped, and he has his own personal crossing guard.
You can find the source of this story’s featured image here.
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