Deputies Capture Florida Alligator Visiting A High School

Parrish, FL – An unexpected visitor caused a stir at Parrish Community High School when an alligator wandered onto the campus.

The incident, captured on Manatee County Sheriff’s deputies’ bodycam footage, occurred on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, and highlights the challenges of human-wildlife interactions in Florida, especially during the alligator spring mating season.

The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office shared the footage on Facebook, showing deputies wrangling the alligator on the school grounds.

According to the sheriff’s post, the alligator was safely captured and relocated to a more suitable habitat far from the classroom.

“Our deputies had to ‘expel’ an unexpected visitor from Parrish Community High School,” the sheriff’s office stated, adding the hashtag #onlyinflorida to emphasize the state’s frequent wildlife encounters.

Florida is home to approximately 1.3 million alligators, which inhabit all 67 counties and often come into contact with humans as suburban development encroaches on their natural habitats.

Bodycam footage released by the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office shows the deputies’ efforts to capture the alligator, which initially resisted before being secured.

The deputies then transported the reptile to a nearby boat ramp, where it was released into the water—a moment humorously described as the alligator “moonwalking” back to its natural environment.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) notes that alligators are most active between dusk and dawn, particularly during their mating season, which begins in early April and peaks in May and June.

During this period, male alligators may travel several miles in search of mates and new habitats, increasing the likelihood of encounters in unexpected places like school campuses.

The FWC’s Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program (SNAP) classifies an alligator as a nuisance if it is at least 4 feet long and poses a threat to people, pets, or property.

In such cases, the FWC dispatches contracted trappers to address the situation. However, alligators under 4 feet can also be removed if they end up in inappropriate locations, such as swimming pools or, in this case, a high school field.

The FWC advises against relocating nuisance alligators in most cases, as they often attempt to return to their original territory, which can lead to repeated conflicts.

The FWC encourages anyone concerned about an alligator to contact their Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 866-392-4286 for assistance.