Florida Gator Hitches (Involuntary) Ride On Back Of SUV

BREVARD COUNTY, FL — Florida and alligators go hand-in-hand. Residents of the Sunshine State have likely encountered an alligator in numerous unexpected places like, for example, a backyard pool, the golf course, a residential neighborhood, or meandering across an urban highway.

Alligators likely aren't spotted hitching a ride down Interstate 95 while tied to the back of an SUV.

Or are they? It depends on who you ask.

Karen Kress was in the right place at the right time when she snapped a photo of a massive alligator tied to the back of a Chevy SUV. She told the Miami Herald she was in disbelief when she saw it.

"I moved here 30 years ago because of the nature and never tire of seeing an alligator," she told the Herald. "However, I never expected it to spot one on the interstate!"

Then she posted the photo on Facebook.

"I'm accepting suggested captions," Kress wrote. "Obviously, this is in floriduh."

Facebook users were quick to agree with Kress.

"This gives a whole new meaning to tail' gator,'" one person wrote.

"I live in Florida and have never seen this. I have on occasion run over one," another wrote.

Others pointed out that alligator hunting season in Florida kicked off Aug. 15 and continues through Nov. 1, so the gator was likely a hunter's catch.

"It's hunting season.. not unusual... Def not a duh moment either," one user wrote.

"The gator was harvested during hunting season. You can see the yellow gator 'tag' fastened to his tail," another wrote.

Each year, the state issues about 7,000 alligator hunting permits to control a population that has reached more than 1.3 million, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.