Florida animal trapper plays with 'gator until it tires, pulls it from pool
(Paul Bedard via AP)
PARKLAND, Fla. – A Florida animal trapper says he corralled a large alligator by playing with it until it got tired after it hopped into a residential swimming pool.
Celebrity trapper Paul Bedard, who is contracted with the state’s nuisance alligator program, said Thursday that he was dispatched to a house in Parkland, Florida.
Bedard said he was able to pull the nearly 9-foot (2.7-meter) animal out of the water once it grew tired from playing with him in the pool on Wednesday. He put a snare on its mouth and taped it.
He described the reptile as “mellow” and named it Cool Hand Luke after the 1967 film starring Paul Newman.
Bedard said the alligator weighed 185 pounds (83.92 kilograms).
Bedard starred in Animal Planet’s reality show “Gator Boys.
View this post on Instagram
Got an e-gator call this morning about an 8 to 9 foot alligator in a swimming pool up in Parkland. The gator had walked through the screen and into the pool. I haven't had a good-sized gator in a swimming pool in probably a year, so I was kind of looking forward to this when I got the call. These are actually fun because the gator can't go anywhere and the water's almost always crystal clear. So all I have to do is jump in the water play around with him until he's tired and I can either hold his mouth shut and put a snare on it and tape it, or if he super energetic I can get him tired enough where I can just pick him up without the tape and carry him out in the yard and then tape him up once I get there. This guy was super mellow didn't really give me a hard time at all, I couldn't get him to spin on me he really wanted nothing to do with me. I simply made a frontal catch put a snare on his mouth and taped him up. Then finally got him to expend some energy.... I didn't want to pull him out of the water until he was tired, because he'll usually go into a death roll and smash himself up on the concrete or, if he's not taped, bite the concrete or something so it's always better to make him expend that energy in the water where is not going to get banged up. He ended up being 8 feet 8 in, and didn't really give me a hassle at all, it was basically as smooth and easy as it ever gets. Thank you Lord, much appreciated. #gatorboysalligatorrescue #gatorboys #rescue #animal #alligator #gators #gator #paulbedard #evergladesholidaypark #everglades #crocodile #croc #greatful #nuisancealligator
A post shared by Paul Bedard (@gatorboysalligatorrescue) on Oct 15, 2019 at 6:14pm PDT
Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
What happens after a hit and run? 🐾 Healthy pets, happy families with Forever Vets Animal Hospital Top 3 things to know as students head back to school in Nassau County Sheriff Hardwick asks for patience from St. Johns County families as new school year begins Focus on safety, school zone speeders as DCPS students head back to school School bus workers, Durham School Services reach agreement to avert strike JEA customers are seeing higher electric bills this summer. Here’s what you should know Dog abandoned outside Jacksonville veterinary clinic survives after nearly 3 days in summer heat FortifyFL tip leads to arrests of 2 St. Johns County teens found with explosives, homemade guns What you need to know as early voting now underway for Florida primary Secure It Now. Protect It Later. 🏡 Weather Ready Tip with Security First Insurance Fernandina Beach voters decide fate of downtown paid parking Can you sleep in your car at rest stops? Here’s what Florida law says 6 charged in multimillion dollar theft ring targeting TJ Maxx, Marshalls, HomeGoods in Florida 91-year-old faces murder charge after wife’s death. What Florida law allows at end of life DCPS expands traffic gardens as Jacksonville ranks among most dangerous U.S. cities for pedestrians Opening day pushed back at Charlton County’s new high school; parents and students weigh in St. Johns County takes first step toward challenging Florida’s agricultural enclave law in court No charges against man accused of following woman, touching himself inside HomeGoods store, JSO says Growing concerns over Amendment 3 as more groups speak out against the property tax proposal Previous video Next video
