
*In Florida, the saying goes that one should expect to find an alligator in any body of water, which extends even to storm drains. Last Saturday, January 18, this adage became all too real as officials from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and the Cape Coral Fire Department worked together to rescue a large alligator that had become stuck in a storm drain.
Upon arrival, the team employed a brush truck equipped with a winch to lift the concrete lid off the culvert, allowing them to safely retrieve the alligator. Measuring approximately 10 feet and 6 inches long after being placed on the trapper’s truck, this gator is no small creature and has certainly left an impression on the local community.
In a social media update, the Cape Coral Fire Department indicated that due to its significant size, the alligator would be taken to a gator farm, where it could potentially be part of a breeding program, ensuring its continued survival in a controlled environment.
While it is not unusual for alligators to find their way into storm drains in the Sunshine State, encountering such a large specimen during late January is noteworthy. Typically, Florida’s alligators enter a dormant state during winter months, particularly when temperatures dip below 70°F.

Cold-blooded by nature, these reptiles halt feeding when the mercury falls, with complete dormancy setting in below 55°F. According to the FWC, they often reside in burrows, known as “dens,” near water sources, surfacing occasionally to bask in the warmth during unseasonably warm spells.
The FWC reports that there are approximately 1.3 million alligators residing in Florida, distributed across all 67 counties, making encounters with these formidable creatures an everyday reality for Floridians. Residents concerned about alligators in inappropriate locations are encouraged to contact the FWC’s Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 866-FWC-GATOR (866-392-4286) for assistance.
As climate patterns shift and warmer temperatures extend through the winter months, the presence of this gargantuan alligator in a storm drain could signal changes in alligator behavior that warrant observation and understanding from both experts and the public alike.
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