In Mont Belvieu, Texas, a small suburb outside of Houston, the start of the workweek was anything but ordinary for the local Animal Control Department. A 12-foot alligator found itself the center of attention after taking up residence in a ditch near Eagle Drive. As reported by the Houston Chronicle, the removal process came down to a coordinated effort involving a grappling truck, courtesy of the city's public works department.

After being safely secured inside a cylinder, the gator was hoisted airborne, with a little drama but mostly just physics at work. According to a report by Click2Houston, a video capturing the scene was shared on social media by Mont Belvieu Public Works, along with a statement celebrating the collaborative undertaking: "It was truly a team effort today as Public Works used their grapple truck to assist Animal Control in removing this 12 ft. gator from a ditch along Eagle Drive. Great grab, guys!"

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department was also part of this unusual urban wildlife tableau. A game warden on site played a role in the alligator's capture and, according to the same Houston Chronicle article, will decide where the reptile gets to spend its future days, clearly somewhere less disruptive than a drainage ditch in suburban Houston.

As for the citizens of Mont Belvieu, the surprise encounter with native wildlife just a stone's throw from their homes has likely been the talk of the town, but thanks to the swift action of several city departments and state wildlife officials, the story ended without incident. In the meantime, the alligator is enjoying a new, undisclosed location, preferably one with more water and fewer people.