Alligator captured in Gulf

In early April, Deputies responded to Gulf Blvd. in Navarre in reference to a complaint of an alligator being on the beach. When deputies arrived, the gator went for a swim in the Gulf of Mexico.

At approximately 3 p.m. on the same date, Sgt. Jason Rickmon was patrolling the beach and received a second call about the wayward gator. Sgt. Rickmon proceeded to emulate his hero, the late Steve Irwin, and followed the alligator and was able to capture it, keeping the gator out of Gulf waters.

The gator was placed in the custody of Officer Webb of the Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission (FWC), who will be relocating the gator to a safer habitat.

According FWC, Florida's alligators start getting active in spring, and Floridians and visitors are urged to be cautious when having fun in and around water, salt water or fresh. Alligators abound in all 67 counties and have cohabitated the state with people for centuries. As waterfront property and is developed, and waterrelated activities increase during the warm months, people should be alert when they are in areas where alligators could be present.

Closely supervise children when they are playing in or around water. State law prohibits contact with alligators, and it is against the law to feed them.

The FWC annually receives more than 18,000 alligatorrelated complaints. The agency removes more than 7,000 alligators each year when the reptiles present danger to people or property.

f you encounter an alligator that poses a threat to you, your pets or your property, call the FWC's toll-free Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 1-866- FWC-GATOR (392-4286).