9-Foot Gator Saved On Selmon Expressway In Tampa: FL Highway Patrol

TAMPA, FL — A 9-foot-long alligator was recently captured and saved from traffic on the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway, the Florida Highway Patrol in Tampa posted to X, formerly Twitter.

A trapper worked with a trooper to locate and catch the gator.

“Life is like a box of chocolates,” FHP wrote. “You never know what you’re gonna find!”

Gators are starting to become more active across Florida, according to the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission.

After being dormant throughout the winter, gator courtship begins in early April with mating taking place in May or June, the agency said.

In late June or early July, female alligators build their nests and deposit anywhere from 32 to 46 eggs, which incubate and hatch from mid-August through early September.

Gators are found in the marshes, swamps, rivers and lakes of all 67 Florida counties, FWC said.
With the state’s human population growth in recent years, there’s been an increase in alligator-human interactions, according to the agency.

It’s possible for people and gators to coexist and serious injuries caused by the reptile are rare in Florida, FWC said.

Anyone concerned about an alligator should call FWC’s toll-free Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 866-392-4286. The FWC will dispatch one of its contracted nuisance alligator trappers to resolve the situation.

Those who see a gator should remember not to feed the animal and keep their distance. Also, people should only swim in designated swimming areas during daylight hours.

Pets should also be kept on a leash and away from water, FWC said.