Alligator wrangled on Florida Air Force base runway after blocking plane

A 10-foot alligator disrupted operations at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida, after it wandered onto a runway and positioned itself under a plane's wheels. The unexpected visitor prompted a response from Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) officers, who engaged in a struggle with the reptile. Despite the altercation, the officers successfully captured and subsequently relocated the alligator to the Hillsborough River, away from the base.

The FWC officers involved are part of the Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program, which aims to remove alligators that are at least four feet long and pose a threat to people, pets, or property. The FWC suggests that the alligator was likely displaced from its natural habitat by a larger alligator known to inhabit the area. It's during this time of year that alligator courtship begins, with mating typically occurring in May or June, which can increase alligator movements and encounters with humans.

Officials at MacDill Air Force Base praised the swift actions of the FWC and reminded the public to maintain a safe distance from wildlife. The FWC also emphasized that feeding or provoking alligators is illegal and dangerous, as it causes them to associate humans with food, and provided a hotline for reporting nuisance alligators: 1-866-FWC-GATOR (392-4286).