Employees Help Catch, Release 6-Foot Gator Outside Their Business
Thursday, May 8, 2008 – updated: 12:36 pm EDT May 8, 2008
MOUNT DORA, Fla. -- Employees at a Mount Dora cookware manufacturer got a rude welcome when they arrived to work Thursday morning. A 6-foot alligator had crawled right up to the front entrance.
SLIDESHOW: Images As Employees Help Catch, Release Gator
RAW VIDEO: Watch Capture, Release Of 6-Foot Alligator
ANIMAL NEWS: More Stories Of Animals In The News
Employees came to work at Americraft Cookware on United Avenue (see map) Thursday morning and found the gator practically on the front doorstep in a courtyard area.The gator was around six feet long from nose to tail, big enough to take a bite out of somebody. So the owner called of buddy of his who has some trapping experience. Mike Brown brought a snare with him and, with the help of a couple of Americraft employees, they wrapped the reptile up."Oh yeah, he thrashed around like they always do. He wasn't pleased about me snaring him, but we got him anyway," Brown said.They took the alligator to Lake Saunders, which is a few hundred feet behind the business. Workers say they eat lunch by the lake all the time, but it was the first time they've ever seen an alligator.One Americraft employee told Eyewitness News the gator got up to the door because the last person out accidentally left their gate open. No doubt, it will be closed Thursday night.
SLIDESHOW: Images As Employees Help Catch, Release GatorRAW VIDEO: Watch Capture, Release Of 6-Foot AlligatorANIMAL NEWS: More Stories Of Animals In The NewsEmployees came to work at Americraft Cookware on United Avenue (see map) Thursday morning and found the gator practically on the front doorstep in a courtyard area.The gator was around six feet long from nose to tail, big enough to take a bite out of somebody. So the owner called of buddy of his who has some trapping experience. Mike Brown brought a snare with him and, with the help of a couple of Americraft employees, they wrapped the reptile up."Oh yeah, he thrashed around like they always do. He wasn't pleased about me snaring him, but we got him anyway," Brown said.They took the alligator to Lake Saunders, which is a few hundred feet behind the business. Workers say they eat lunch by the lake all the time, but it was the first time they've ever seen an alligator.One Americraft employee told Eyewitness News the gator got up to the door because the last person out accidentally left their gate open. No doubt, it will be closed Thursday night.
Previous Stories:
- May 1, 2008: Large Alligator Still On the Loose Near Windermere Elementary School
- April 28, 2008: Frat Accused of Hazing After Pledges Tried Stealing Alligators
- April 17, 2008: Surveillance Video Shows Teens' Alligator Theft Attempt Foiled
- April 10, 2008: Alligator May Have Caused Experimental Plane To Flip In Lake Jesup
- April 9, 2008: Daring Teen Trapper Jumps On Back Of 8-Foot Alligator
- March 8, 2008: Man Rescued After A Second Encounter With Alligator
- February 18, 2008: Officials Remove One Of Two Alligators Spotted In Orange County Pond
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