A 12-foot-long alligator that was charging at a car in the middle of a dark North Carolina road on Friday was persuaded to leave by firefighters who used a unique method: spraying the giant reptile with water from a hose.
A large alligator was reported blocking traffic around 1 a.m. in Boiling Spring Lakes, a Brunswick County town south of Wilmington.
“The angry intruder lay in the middle of the road and lunged at passing motorists,” Boiling Spring Lakes Fire Rescue said.
The Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office “determined they could not handle the 12-foot Dragon on their own” and so requested firefighters’ help, according to the fire department.
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Authorities say a 12-foot-long alligator was in the middle of the road in Boiling Spring Lakes, North Carolina, and was attacking passing cars. (Boiling Spring Lakes Fire)
But when the firefighters realized they were no match for the giant alligator, they decided to try a different tactic.
The sheriff’s office and fire department tried to move the giant reptile off the road, but the alligator would not budge. (Boiling Spring Lakes Fire)
“After initial attempts to get the man across the road were unsuccessful, we resorted to what we do best – flood him,” fire officials said.
After all other methods failed, fire officials decided to spray the alligator with a hose, which caused it to move to another location. (Boiling Spring Lakes Fire)
The fire department posted pictures of firefighters dousing the alligator with a fire hose to put out the flames.
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“With gentle showers to encourage its retreat, the crocodile finally decided that its presence in civilisation was over for the time being and retreated back to its more natural habitat,” officials said.
Officials said moving the alligator off the dark road is paramount for its safety and the safety of drivers. (Boiling Spring Lakes Fire)
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The sheriff’s office thanked firefighters for their rescue, saying getting the “big man” off the road to safety likely saved his life and those of others traveling along the dark road.
