3 Alligators Removed From St. Pete Lake Since Nov. 1: FWC

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — Three alligators were removed from Lake Eli in St. Petersburg over the span of one week, the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission told Patch.

FWC officers initially responded to reports of a gator with a rope around its mouth near the lake, which is near Dell Holmes Park and Lake Maggiore, on Nov. 1

A contracted nuisance alligator trapper was called in to help remove the reported gator.

When that gator wasn't found, two others, measuring 8-feet and 11-feet-long, respectively, were removed from the area “in the interest of public safety,” the agency said.

On Tuesday, FWC officers and the trapper responded to the lake after reports that the alligator with the rope around its mouth was seen again.

That 12-foot-long gator was captured and removed the same day, FWC said.