An afternoon on the pitch at Greyhawk Landing in Bradenton turned wild Thursday when deputies with the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office had to rescue an alligator that got itself tangled in a soccer net.
According to WTSP, photos from the scene show the gator stretched out on the field while deputies worked to remove the netting. Another image captures the animal after it was freed, having moved away from the immediate area.
The three-image gallery, credited to Sheri Nadelman and provided by the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, documents the whole rescue from entanglement to release.
Gators, Ponds and Suburban Soccer Fields
Greyhawk Landing’s mix of retention ponds and neighborhood sports fields creates a setting where kids, parents and wildlife regularly cross paths. That also means stray sports gear can turn into an unintended trap for local animals.
Back in 2020, a similar scene played out nearby when an alligator at Braden River Middle School ended up caught in a soccer net. In that case, a wildlife rehabilitator stepped in to free the animal, as reported by Your Observer. Both incidents highlight how fields built close to the water can pose hidden hazards for wildlife.
What To Do If You See an Entangled or Dangerous Gator
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission urges residents to keep their distance and not try to free or handle wild alligators themselves. Instead, people are asked to report gators that are entangled or pose a threat by calling the Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 866-FWC-GATOR (866-392-4286).
For more safety tips and guidance on living alongside Florida’s alligators, visit MyFWC.
