One Florida resident claims that an alligator living in a neighborhood has had its mouth taped shut since December.
Amber Lock, a local of Lumsden Reserve who sent pictures of the alligator to Nexstar’s WFLA, referred to the practices as “inhumane.”
Lock claimed that as of Tuesday afternoon, nobody had gone to the retention pond in her neighborhood to capture the reptile and free it from the conditions.
Lock said she believes the animal’s mouth was taped shut when a trapper attempted to remove the alligator, but it’s unclear why the animal was left there.
A spokesperson with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission explained that the delay was due to “confusion caused by two different permit requests made to two different trappers by members of the public.”
She said a trapper went to the location on Feb. 11 and saw the gator, but it disappeared from view anytime anyone came close to the water.
A new permit was issued on Feb. 12. The spokeswoman said the agency planned to send a contracted nuisance alligator trapper to the location to remove it from the area.
But how is the animal surviving?
According to the FWC, alligators are “opportunistic feeders,” meaning they will eat nearly anything they can capture. However, being that gators are cold-blooded, they do not need to eat often: They typically eat once a week, but can survive up to two to three years without food.
Sandra Slone says
On TV they show them being shot because of an over abundance of them?
Pam says
For God sake stop posting pictures and sort it out you are just as cruel as the one who taped it help this poor creature
Jessica Duffy says
Hi, my name is Jessica. I’m very inspired by everything that you have done and just for human nature as a human being. It’s so sad that other living being’s, we will respect, but when it comes to an innocent animal, that doesn’t understand, we will not treat with respect. I very much respect what you are trying to do, and I find it very sad that not very many people are trying to help or spread the word. I will let you know this, I am on your side because I am on the planet’s side. I am on all animals side from human to alligator, so please reach out if there’s anything that I can do to help or assist in anyway possible to make things like this stop in this world. Thank you for being such a huge hearted person. We need more people like you in this world.
Jessica Duffy says
I honestly cannot even look at the pictures, because I feel as though with the proper people who are trained to deal with this type of animal, it would be easy to just cut the tape off. So I don’t understand why permits and dealing with the courts are necessary when it’s an act of humanity and it’s a wild animal. A wild animal who doesn’t Understand why they have been put in this position. Therefore, you, as the person who wrote the article, should do something to reach out to someone who is capable of understanding these predators, and being able to cut the table off, so that this poor innocent green can live on the rest of its life without being tracked.
Henn says
Just get it sorted officials or offer in your notice, you are not doing your job properly