ORMOND BEACH, Fla. — Some Ormond Beach residents said they can't get anyone to help them with an area alligator that may be in danger.
The gator has been living in a retention pond, but residents fear a rope tied around its neck could cause harm.
The concerned neighbors said they don't want the animal killed, but they’re also not willing to pay a trapper hundreds of dollars to coral the 6-foot gator.
Nick Calvano said he discovered the creature while riding his bike through Hunter's Ridge, where he lives.
“I associate alligators with shoes and purses, so I named him Scarpa,” said Calvano.
Scarpa means “shoe” in Italian, Calvano said.
Calvano is worried the gator could die if the rope is not removed from its neck.
“With that rope still around his neck, I just picture it getting tighter and tighter until eventually he'll die,” said Calvano.
Calvano said he has called Animal Control, but it doesn’t deal with alligators. He also called another local group, but he was told to let nature take its course.
“I didn't see this as nature taking its course, and I was really hoping somebody would do something, but nobody did,” Calvano said.