MIAMI BEACH, FLA. (WSVN) – A baby alligator surprised people at a packed pier on South Beach, Sunday morning.
The gator was found near the South Pointe Park pier in the Atlantic Ocean, swimming by the jetty and thought to be in distress.
“I was, like, amazed that it would be there,” said one beachgoer.
Beachgoers got a good look at the four-foot reptile before experts were called out to help.
Officials said the alligator is not native to saltwater.
“According to them, it came here from a river,” said tourist Devorah Kleinman. “It’s not supposed to be here.”
7News viewers sent in cellphone video of the large reptile on the rocks near the jetty as wildlife officials attempted to capture it.
WHOA!!!
Look what was swimming in #SouthBeach #SouthPointePier this morning & captured by @MyFWC @MiamiBeachPD
(pix ctsy @wsvn viewer)
🦎🦎🦎 pic.twitter.com/lvp2mKyV5Y— Darcy Tannebaum (@dt007) July 23, 2017
Around lunchtime, with a big beach audience, Miami Beach cops, Miami Beach Ocean Rescue, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officials and beachgoers in swimsuits worked together to catch the gator.
“We saw the baby alligator there, and it needed help,” said Edward Posada, who helped with the rescue. “We called wildlife who came and rescued it.”
According to a viewer, it took at least two hours for crews to capture the gator. They used rope, sticks and a rock to help get it out of the water.
“I’m happy,” said Posada. “It put a smile on my face that we saved it.”
MBPD and @MyFWC always ready for the job. This 🐊 lost its way and was struggling near the S. Pointe jetty. Safely caught no injuries. pic.twitter.com/PpgzdulhzY
— Miami Beach Police (@MiamiBeachPD) July 23, 2017
(Copyright (c) 2024 Sunbeam Television. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)