"Hangry" Alligator Chases Customers Through Restaurant Parking Lot

Perhaps it just wanted a cheeseburger... or maybe a more substantial meal? An alligator reportedly chased customers through the parking lot of a Florida restaurant on Monday until it was wrangled and taken away by cops. The Lee County Sheriff's Office said that deputies responded to a Wendy's outlet where the six-foot alligator was chasing customers through the parking lot. 

"Deputies responded to Lee Boulevard today after this six-ft gator chased pedestrians through a Wendy's parking lot," the Lee County Sheriff's Office tweeted. "He may have just been 'hangry' for a cheeseburger, but he gave many quite the scare!" the department joked.

The sheriff's office worked with Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission personnel to rescue and relocate the gator.

GATOR CHASE????

Deputies responded to Lee Blvd today after this 6-ft gator chased pedestrians through a Wendy's parking lot.

He may have just been "hangry" for a cheeseburger, but he gave many quite the scare!

Alongside FWC, we wrangled the gator and safely relocated it. pic.twitter.com/OIiDHCmMJC

— Lee County Sheriff (@leesheriff) May 17, 2021

Photos of the rescue operation were shared on Twitter. The Lehigh Acres Fire Department also shared footage of the gator from across the street. It shows the reptile wandering through the parking lot of a rehabilitation centre.

In other #Florida news, we'll be experiencing a slightly delayed response time leaving Lehigh Acres Health & Rehab ???????????? pic.twitter.com/9cPykAwxo8

— Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District (@LehighAcresFD) May 17, 2021

That the incident took place in Florida - a state that sees more human-gator interaction than perhaps any other in the US - did not come as a surprise to Twitter users. Florida is home to around 1.25 million alligators and they are frequently spotted at golf courses, swamps and other open spaces.
 

A unique skillset is required for being a deputy in Florida. Deputies required to be good with people, cool under pressure, and, on occasion, gator wrangling.

— jonsimonson (@jonsimonson) May 18, 2021

The things law enforcement does in Florida. ???? https://t.co/Rxa0SehopV

— Kimberly Andrew (@KimAndrew74) May 19, 2021

Twitter users thanked cops for relocating the alligator and remarked that the incident was typical of the sunshine state. "This is Florida every day," wrote one Twitter user.

This is Florida everyday. Luckily the two gators in the pond next to us, stay near the pond. https://t.co/67UdHUzXbm

— Boris&Natasha (@Boris_NatashaFL) May 18, 2021

"Laughs in Floridian," another quipped.

THIS IS MY WENDY'S LMFAO

*laughs in floridian* https://t.co/vJKXsxitxX

— ????Kimber???? (@SarcasticGhosty) May 18, 2021

According to the New York Post, wildlife officials said the animal was probably trying to get from one water body to the other when its path cut across the Wendy's parking lot. It was trapped and relocated to a farm in LaBelle.