Florida police help capture 11-foot, 450-pound gator near school

Credit: Davie Police Department

Credit: Davie Police Department

Police in Florida helped wildlife officials capture a large alligator Wednesday after receiving reports of the 11-foot, 450-pound creature spotted near a middle school.

Officers from the Davie Police Department captured the gator on Wednesday on a bike trail near Falcon Cove Middle School in Davie. "It's probably the largest alligator that I've encountered out on the roadways and actually in Davie in my 19 years of experience," Officer Anthony Berardo told WSVN.

According to police, trappers had been looking to capture this alligator for awhile because it was deemed a nuisance. Officials said they believe people were feeding the alligator.

Today, this large 11' 450lb alligator was on a bike trail in Southwest Ranches, FL. This area is in very close proximity to a middle and high school. The alligator was trapped by a member of "SNAP" with assistance from a few of our Davie Police Officers. The Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program is administered by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. We were told by the trapper that they have been looking to trap this alligator for quite some time because it is considered a nuisance due to it being fed by humans.

Posted by The Davie Police Department on Wednesday, September 7, 2016

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