Gator Goes Out On a (Tree) Limb

Cape Coral, FL — Florida residents are accustomed to alligators getting out and stretching their legs this time of year. Sightings in residential neighborhoods, along busy streets and even on sandy beaches aren’t all that uncommon.

But it’s not every day that an alligator is spotted hanging out in a tree.

That, however, was the case Tuesday in Cape Coral.

It seems a man happened to look up into a tree when he noticed a gator hanging out on a limb. At first he thought it was an iguana, but a closer look revealed the truth.

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The man, identified only as Ronald S., was so excited with the sighting, he shared a photo with Matt Devitt of WINK news, who posted it to Twitter.

Just how the alligator managed to wrangle itself onto its perch remains unknown. It’s doubtful a “Sharknado” tore through Cape Coral unnoticed on Tuesday, also picking up a stray gator along the way. Gators, however, aren’t beyond climbing to get where they want to go, often scaling fences to get to what’s on the other side.

Summertime is peak time for alligators to get out and stretch their legs.

“All reptiles are more active in warmer months,” said Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission spokesman Gary Morse. “The body temperature and activity levels of alligators and other reptiles is directly related to the temperature of their surroundings.”

To help people stay safe around alligators, the state has created an educational brochure that Morse recommends all residents and visitors check out.

“It’s imperative that people become informed about alligators and alligator safety,” he said. “Go to our website at MyFWC.com and read the Living With Alligators brochure.”

Just what folks should do if they spot an alligator in a tree is a little fuzzy. The state does have a hotline set up to accept nuisance alligator reports, though. That number is 1-866-FWC-GATOR (866-392-4286).

The state received 13,962 calls about nuisance alligators in 2015. A total of 7,513 alligators were removed as a result of those calls.

Photo courtesy of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission