11-foot, 450-pound alligator captured near Davie school

SOUTHWEST RANCHES, FLA. (WSVN) - A large alligator was captured by the Davie Police Department Wednesday morning.

Davie Police tweeted an impressive picture, Wednesday, of a few of their officers displaying a whopping 11-foot, 450-pound alligator.

“That’s just crazy, man, to see an alligator that big around an area that can be where little kids are,” said resident Hernando Sierra.

The department said the alligator was caught along Griffin Road and Bonaventure Boulevard in close proximity to a school.

“Two blocks east of Falcon Cove Middle School,” said an official. “Over on a bicycle path where bicyclists, horses and joggers are, which could be very dangerous.”

Davie Police received the call from a concerned citizen, but they needed back up to subdue the reptile. With help from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program (SNAP), they were able to trap the animal.

“Due to the size of the alligator, it’s probably the largest alligator that I’ve encountered out on the roadways and actually in Davie in my 19 years of experience,” said Davie Police Officer Anthony Berardo.

Police said FWC has received calls about this alligator before, but they could not track it down, until now.

While gators are a familiar sight in South Florida, many parents are counting their blessings that it didn’t get close to any kids. “It has happened several times, so especially when you have small kids and pets, yeah, you get very concerned,” said mother Claudia Aguirre.

Officials said, due to the size of the gator, officials believe people may have been feeding it.

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