Categories: U.S.

Half-mouthed alligator avoids capture in Florida: ‘I felt terrible for him’

close Video

‘Totally surreal’ alligator catch in Florida makes state history

Alligator hunting guide and owner of Get Bit Outdoors Fishing Supply Store Kevin Brotz tells ‘Fox & Friends Weekend’ about the 13-foot, 920-pound gator catch.

A half-mouthed alligator in Florida managed to avoid being captured by officials after a local resident contacted authorities.

Eustacia Kanter told FOX 35 she saw the alligator in Sanford, Florida, about a week ago near a kayak loading area. The gator hasn’t yet been captured by officials.

“At first, my brain couldn’t comprehend that its entire upper jaw was missing,” Kanter said. “When I realized, I felt terrible for him and snapped as good a photo as I could get with my cell phone standing at a distance so that I could share it and try to find help.”

The woman contacted the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and an environmental conservation nonprofit in hopes they would help find and rescue the gator.

LARGE ALLIGATOR FOUND ‘PATIENTLY WAITING’ FOR LOUISIANA DOLLAR STORE TO OPEN

Eustacia Kanter told FOX 35 she saw the alligator in Sanford, Florida, about a week ago near a kayak loading area. The gator hasn’t yet been captured by officials. (Eustacia Kanter)

Katrina Shadix, executive director of environmental nonprofit Bear Warriors United, said she helped mobilize the community to get the gator help.

“I get many messages every week from members who find wildlife in distress and know that I have connections with FWC to get help,” Shadix said. “I received a Facebook message from (Kanter) who was at Wilson’s Landing. She sent me a picture of the alligator.”

800-POUND, 14-FOOT ALLIGATOR CAUGHT IN MISSISSIPPI BREAKS HARVEST RECORD: ‘A LOT OF LEATHER’

Kim Titterington, a licensed wildlife rehabilitator, said the gator has likely been without a snout for a while since the injury is scarred.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER

She said in order to survive, the gator has likely been eating carrion, invertebrates, or other small-moving prey in order to keep itself sustained.

Adam Sabes is a writer for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to Adam.Sabes@fox.com and on Twitter @asabes10.

Share

Recent Posts

Scams that aren’t illegal (but should be)

Every year during National Consumer Protection Week, you hear warnings about phishing emails, fake IRS…

1 hour ago

Stop the insanity 2.0: ’90s icon Susan Powter’s tech comeback

There was a time when you could not turn on the TV without seeing Susan…

5 hours ago

Figure data breach exposes nearly 1M accounts

If you have applied for a loan online, you probably shared more than you realized.…

1 day ago

China’s compact humanoid robot shows off balance and flips

Humanoid robotics companies have already shown their machines can run at 22 mph, land backflips…

1 day ago

Why the Microsoft 365 Copilot bug matters for data security

You trust your email security settings for a reason. So when an AI assistant quietly…

2 days ago

China’s ultrasound brain tech race heats up

When you hear "brain-computer interface," you probably picture surgery, wires and a chip in your…

2 days ago