Alligator Captured Under Car On Terrace Ridge Drive

Temple Terrace Police Officer Marcus Hildebrand and Reserve Officer Ken Stanton were returning to the city from an auction facility on U.S. 301 Wednesday morning when they got an unusual call.

Temple Terrace Public Works employees had found a nearly 6-foot alligator under a car on Terrace Ridge Drive.

Lucky for nearby residents, Stanton is a licensed nuisance alligator trapper with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) in addition to his police duties. Because of his expertise, he and Hildebrand took the call.

Stanton captured the gator and released it at another location. He said Temple Terrace residents might see gators out and about this time of year because it’s mating season. He encouraged people not to feed them.

“Doing so interrupts nature and the natural course and forces FWC to make decisions that impacts the life of the alligator being fed,” he said. “They are a wild animal and should be viewed from afar and not up close.”

If you find a nuisance alligator, Stanton said you can call FWC’s hotline Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., at 1-866-FWC-GATOR (1-866-392-4286). At any other time, you can call the Temple Terrace Police Department at 813-506-6500.

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