CRIKEY! Alligator caught in front of Hartford home
HARTFORD, Ala (WDHN) — How many cops does it take to catch an alligator? The answer: one brave chief to grab and one gator-trapping state trooper to give advice.
On Tuesday afternoon, officers responded to a home on Bigbee Street in Hartford after a small alligator from a nearby pond had found its way into the front yard of a home.
The alligator was around 2 feet long and missing one of its back legs. Officers lovingly named the reptile '3-legged Fred' in a Facebook post.
Once on the scene, Chief Zachary Cooke called Alabama State Trooper Jere Jenson, who has experience capturing and releasing alligators.
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After a quick phone call and some good advice, Chief Cooke was able to pick up the gator quickly and duct tape its mouth so as not to get bitten.
While 3-legged Fred is small, he still could do damage with his powerful jaws.
Chief Cooke and the other responders on the scene safely transported their new friend to a swamp around County Road 38 and released the small gator.
'Be good, little buddy,' the chief said before returning the gator to the water.
The chief says they wanted to relocate the alligator to a new home so residents in the neighborhood would not be frightened.
Sergeant Miller and Officer Burch with the Hartford Police Department also responded to help keep 3-legged Fred and those around safe. They were joined by GCSO Deputy Lindsey, Hartford City Utilities, and Hartford's Animal Control Officer.
No alligators or police officers were harmed in this experience.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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