Curious Alligator Spotted Waiting Outside Store in Louisiana
A remarkable sight unfolded in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, as a massive alligator was captured on camera, seemingly waiting for a local Dollar General store to open. The image, shared by the Plaquemines Parish Sheriff’s Office on Facebook, depicts the alligator, a descendant of creatures that roamed alongside dinosaurs millions of years ago, waiting patiently outside the store in the early hours of the morning.
The sheriff’s department humorously captioned the photo, noting that the “little fella” was eager for the store’s opening. The alligator, snapped by Deputy Tony Palmisano, was estimated to be nearly 6 feet long and was positioned right in front of the store’s sliding glass doors.
In a playful comment, the sheriff’s office shared a quirky twist to the story. They revealed that the alligator managed to grab some “Little Debbie snacks” and drove off to a local pond for a fishing expedition at the Civic Drive Fishing Pier in Port Sulphur. The office added that the alligator was simply “#LivingTheDream.”
The amusing encounter quickly gained attention on social media. Even the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office chimed in, jokingly asking about the alligator’s diet and playfully correcting the idea of it being a “widdle fella.”
Plaquemines Parish, located an hour south of New Orleans, is a habitat rich in alligators. Louisiana’s wild alligator population has experienced a remarkable rebound in recent years. Once endangered, the alligator population has surged from under 100,000 to over 2 million in the past five decades, as reported by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Additionally, approximately 1 million alligators are housed on farms within the state.
This extraordinary encounter with a creature whose lineage dates back to around 245 million years ago serves as a reminder of the rich history and unique wildlife that Louisiana holds.
In the midst of our modern world, where surprises seem to await us at every corner, encounters like these give us a glimpse into the fascinating world of nature’s past and present.