Gator On a Limb, Doughnuts Not Meth, Black Bear Standoff: Weird Florida

Patch operates 23 daily news sites in Florida. The following are some of the wacky, wonderful and just plain weird stories that had people talking over the summer:

Clinton, Trump: Not All Florida Voters Have Heard of Them

While Suffolk University’s latest poll of likely Florida voters gives Democrat Hillary Clinton a 6-point lead over Republican Donald Trump, neither candidate’s name-brand recognition seems to be universal in the Sunshine State. Several participants in the Boston university’s poll said they’d never heard of either candidate before.

Krispy Kreme Doughnut Glaze Mix-Up Led to Meth Arrest, Man Says

That sticky, sweet glaze that makes Krispy Kreme doughnuts so hard to pass by (especially when the bright red “Hot Now” light is illuminated in a store window) can also lead to a case of mistaken identity. At least that’s the contention of an Orlando man, who says he was falsely arrested last year after a cop thought doughnut glaze flakes were crystal meth.

Man Nicknamed ‘Pork Chop’ Buried Boss Alive: Deputies

Whether Johnny Paycheck’s “Take This Job and Shove It” was an earworm running through a Florida man’s head on Wednesday morning remains unclear. What is clear is that the 32-year-old DeBary man faces felony charges after Volusia County deputies say he dumped two loads of dirt on his boss following an argument.

Gator Goes Out On a (Tree) Limb

Florida residents are accustomed to alligators getting out and stretching their legs this time of year. Sightings in residential neighborhoods, along busy streets and even on sandy beaches aren’t all that uncommon. But it’s not every day that an alligator is spotted hanging out in a tree.

Man Swiped 107 Sea Turtle Eggs From Mother Turtle, Officials Say

A 49-year-old Tequesta man faces criminal charges after officers from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission say they caught him in the act of swiping protected loggerhead sea turtle eggs while the mother turtle was in the process of laying them.

Patient Car Thief Waited Hours To Drive Away: Cops

Patience is a virtue even car thieves can appreciate. At least, that seems to have been the case for one accused Tampa car thief last week.

Tampa Police ‘Standoff’ With Black Bear Ends Peacefully

Tampa Police officers found themselves involved in a standoff of sorts Tuesday morning. According to the agency, one of its officers was responding to an unrelated call around 5:30 a.m. when he saw a large animal running by him.

Watch: Manatee Crashes Florida Backyard

A St. Petersburg woman got quite a surprise over the weekend when she found unusual visitors in her backyard. It seems two manatees took advantage of high waters to pay her a personal visit.

Photo courtesy of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission