In Slidell on Thursday night, a small alligator chose the wrong front porch for a visit, startling a homeowner and kicking off a highly local bit of backyard drama. What could have been a dangerous situation quickly turned into a textbook catch-and-release, thanks to a calm resident, a garbage can, and a Station 14 crew that treated the scaly surprise like just another call.
Video shows the homeowner coolly guiding the alligator into a garbage can before firefighters arrive. Once on scene, the crew secures the animal's jaw with rope and tape, then carefully carries it away from the house. After stabilizing the reptile, they move it a short distance and release it into a nearby wetland that is a far better fit than a concrete front step.
When To Call Wildlife Officials
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says most alligators will eventually move on if people simply give them space. The agency advises that animals longer than 4 feet that threaten people or pets should be reported instead of pushed along with DIY tactics. According to Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, licensed nuisance-alligator hunters remove more than 1,000 problem gators each year and the department provides regional contacts and safety guidance for residents.
The agency's advice is straightforward: keep pets on a leash around the water, never feed alligators, and call the appropriate authorities rather than attempting to handle or relocate the animal yourself.
Station 14's Rookie Gator Grab
According to St. Tammany Fire Protection District #1, the Station 14 crew on the call included Captains Austin Graham and Richard Carter, operators Ashton Bond and Collin Gonzalez, and rookies Dondrell Matthews, Collin Buckley and Ricky Mistretta. The reel from the scene shows firefighters looping rope around the gator's mouth, backing it up with tape, then lifting the animal and walking it away from nearby homes before releasing it into the wetlands.
The department described the incident as an all-hazards response, the sort of unpredictable call they train for, and made a point of crediting the homeowner for helping contain the animal until crews could get there.
How Neighbors And Officials Should React
Encounters like this tend to spike as temperatures climb, a seasonal reminder that people are living close to wildlife and that trained responders are the ones who should handle the risky work. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries nuisance-alligator guidance stresses watching animals from a safe distance of at least 50 feet and reporting nonemergency sightings to regional LDWF offices or Operation Game Thief at 1-800-442-2511.
If there is an immediate threat to people or pets, residents are advised to call 911 so emergency responders can coordinate directly with wildlife officials rather than trying to solve the problem themselves.
