CORPUS CHRISTI - Residents in the Los Encinos area could rest at ease Friday afternoon, after a gator was captured at about 3 p.m. The large alligator had been spotted in a drainage ditch just behind several homes. The creature came out of hiding on Frio Street, near Greenwood, and residents named it the Los Encinos Alligator.
The nearly 10-foot alligator was first spotted in the ditch Thursday, and Many people were worried about the animal. Some people had been trying to feeding the alligator, which is illegal. The alligator had called a drainage ditch home, just a few blocks from an elementary school.
Many parents were concerned for their children's safety. Safety had also been a big concern for the elementary school just up the road.
Before school let out, a Corpus Christi Independent School District police officer was keeping an eye on the area to make sure kids didn't try to get close to the alligator.
"He was underneath the street," resident, Susan Rivera, said. "You could only see his eyes."
Residents like Rivera couldn't help but come out to take a look at the creature that lay still, as more and more onlookers arrived. Rivera was stunned that Parks and Wildlife officials hadn't come out to move the alligator that sat in the drainage ditch, just blocks from her grandkids elementary school.
"I think it's important that they send someone to come and patrol around here, because children will be very curious," Rivera said. "At night, the alligator can come out, and there are homes 100 feet from where the alligator is - maybe 50 feet."
Angry parents who dropped by got on their cellphones and called the nearby school. The parents were releived that parks and wildlife captured and relocated the alligator.
Parks andwildlife officials said they hadn't planned to move the gator since it wasn't bothering anyone, but changed their minds after some people came out and tried to feed the animal, tying a piece of chicken from a rope. People were getting too close to the animal, endangering their own lives.
Online Reporter: Roxanne Carrillo
