North Dale Mabry Highway turned into an impromptu wildlife crossing Wednesday evening when a seven-foot alligator tried to waltz across the busy Tampa roadway, bringing traffic to a halt and pulling in both deputies and a licensed trapper for a careful removal.
Deputies with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office worked alongside a licensed nuisance alligator trapper to secure the reptile without injury and keep drivers out of harm's way. The sheriff's office said the gator stretched about seven feet and was armed with roughly 80 very sharp teeth.
According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, Team HCSO officers briefly shut down a portion of North Dale Mabry as they coordinated with the trapper to quite literally shut down the gator's attempted crossing. The agency's post tagged the moment with the hashtag #teamHCSO, thanked the trapper for keeping both the animal and public safe, and noted that video of the roadside encounter will appear in a future episode of Cops.
When your “suspect” is 7 feet long and comes with 80 very sharp teeth… you call in backup.🐊 Thanks to #teamHCSO and a licensed trapper, this gator’s attempt to cross North Dale Mabry Highway was safely shut down. Catch this wild moment on a future https://x.com/i/status/2049610958943801613
— HCSO Sheriff (@HCSOSheriff) April 29, 2026
How gator removals work
Per the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program sends contracted trappers to remove alligators that pose a threat in developed areas. An alligator is generally treated as a nuisance if it is four feet or longer and believed to threaten people, pets, or property. The agency urges residents to call 866‑FWC‑GATOR instead of trying to handle an alligator on their own.
Not uncommon in Tampa neighborhoods
Encounters like this are hardly unheard of around Tampa. Hoodline previously covered a 9-foot gator at a Seffner school bus stop that was removed by a licensed trapper, one of several recent calls that ended the same way and highlighted how development near waterways increases human-gator contact; see our coverage 9-foot gator at Seffner stop.
What to do if you spot a gator
If you come across an alligator in a yard, on a trail, or on a roadway, keep your distance, leash your pets, and never feed or approach it. Per Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission guidance, call the Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 866‑FWC‑GATOR (866‑392‑4286) so a contracted trapper can be dispatched. If the animal appears to pose an immediate danger, contact local law enforcement; as the sheriff's office post makes clear, deputies will coordinate with trappers when needed.
