TAMPA, Fla. - It was a usual rush-hour Monday on the Selmon Expressway, until drivers came across an unusual roadblock: a 9-foot alligator. Florida Highway Patrol troopers and a certified alligator trapper were dispatched to the highway, where they found the immense reptile lounging in the eastbound lanes near the reversible express lanes toward Brandon, WSVN reported.
The encounter wasn't just a shock to commuters but also, an opportunity for social media clout. The FHP didn't miss the chance, snapping a photo and posting it online with the caption, "Life is like a box of chocolates — you never know what you’re gonna find!" According to WFLA, they added a lighthearted query, jesting about whether the gator was eligible for the 50% Florida Toll Relief Credit.
Officials at the scene managed to secure the alligator, ensuring that, neither human nor beast was hurt in the process. The alligator was then safely relocated to a more appropriate location, away from the bustling traffic and potential human conflict. The specifics of the new habitat were not disclosed, keeping its whereabouts as hush as the creature's silent glide through the water.
With the mating season for alligators upon us, such sightings may become more common. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has noted an uptick in alligator activity this time of year, which explains why the expressway traveler found its way to such an exotic, asphalt-laden habitat, WSVN pointed out.
