Alligator Turns Up In South Beach

MIAMI BEACH, FL — An alligator "lost its way" and turned up in South Beach on Sunday afternoon. Miami Beach police said they spotted the fresh-water reptile struggling in the salt water along South Pointe jetty. The gator was captured by police and state wildlife officials.

"Safely caught. No injuries," Miami Beach police posted on social media. Police got a helping hand from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. (Sign up for our free Daily Newsletters and Breaking News Alerts for the Miami Beach Patch.)

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Officers from the two organizations later posed for a photo with the alligator.

"If it weren't for the fast response of our team the alligator may have died," explained Ernesto Rodriguez of the Miami Beach Police Department.

Alligators are found in all 67 Florida counties, according to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, which receives an average of nearly 16,000 alligator-related complaints per year.

Photos courtesy Miami Beach Police Department