Photo: Gator Strolled Up to Florida McDonald's

A 9-foot-2-inch alligator out on a midnight stroll in Brevard County caused quite a stir outside of a McDonald’s restaurant Monday.

It seems the critter was spotted cruising along a sidewalk near the eatery, raising concern in the community. Cocoa Police called in a trapper, who ultimately put the gator down for public safety reasons, News 13 reported.

Spring is prime time for encounters with the Sunshine State’s cold-blooded creatures, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission warns.

“Most amphibians (toads and frogs) and reptiles become more active in the spring as the weather warms up,” FWC spokeswoman Lisa Thompson said late last week in reference to another Florida critter that’s becoming more noticeable in counties across the state as the temperatures rise – the bufo toad.

Unlike alligators, the bufo toad, also called a giant toad, is not native to Florida. Those critters can grow to be more than 9 inches long and are poisonous courtesy of a toxin they release. That toxin can prove fatal for dogs and cats especially.

See Also:

• Florida’s Giant Toads More Active in Spring, Experts Warn
• Photos: Monster Gator Returns, Chomps on Giant Turtle

Residents are warned to monitor their pets when they are outdoors to avoid contact with giant toads. As for alligators, the state operates a Nuisance Alligator Program that is designed to remove gators that are deemed threats to people, pets or property. The state fields nuisance calls related to alligators that are at least 4 feet in length, as was the case in Cocoa Monday morning.

In 2013, the state reported receiving more than 15,000 calls related to nuisance alligators. A total of 6,605 alligators were removed by trappers that year, according to FWC’s website.

To find out more about Florida’s nuisance alligator program, visit the state online.

To report a nuisance alligator, call 1-866-FWC-GATOR.

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