The 1950s gave rise to many expressions that are with us to this day, some in abbreviated forms. The “see you later alligator” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2QrhFYbm0s&feature=relatedof yesteryear has morphed into the way cool “later” of today. If you live in Florida, though, you won’t be seeing alligators only later: chances are excellent that you’ll be seeing them now, even in downtown Palm Beach. Only a few days ago, according to a report in The Palm Beach Post, a 12-foot-long alligator was found “lounging” on a sidewalk in a neighborhood called Royal Palm Beach. This gives new meaning to the phrase, “lounge lizards.” After a phone call, an “alligator control agent” appeared on the scene to remove the relaxing reptile from the public walkway. As the Post reports:
“The warm weather signals alligators being active,” said Gabriella Ferraro, spokeswoman for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
“This is the time of the year when you will find them on the sidewalk, or the side of the road looking for food,” she said.
At least, that’s what state wildlife officials figure a 12-foot reptile found lounging on a sidewalk near the corner of Southern and Old Crestwood boulevards was doing Thursday morning.
State wildlife officials, along with Palm Beach County Sheriff’s deputies, made sure the alligator went nowhere until a trapper arrived around 9 a.m.
According to Ferraro, they helped the trapper wrap up the alligator without incident and take him away.
The alligator is now property of the trapper, Ferraro said — adding that it is likely that it will be euthanized, unless it gets donated to an exhibit.
Wildlife officials advise anyone that sees an alligator, even a lounging one, to leave it alone and call local law enforcement.
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