Gator Crashes Construction Zone Before Being Returned to the Wild

The small alligator was brought safely to a nearby lake on Wednesday, June 24

NEED TO KNOW

• A baby alligator crashed a construction site in Fulshear, Texas, on Wednesday, June 24
• The Fulshear Police Department was able to relocate the baby gator to a nearby lake
• Construction crews posed for photos with the little visitor

A little alligator attempted to join a construction crew.

The baby gator crashed the work site on the Westpark Tollway in Fulshear, Texas, according to the Fulshear Police Department, which shared photos from the gator rescue on Wednesday, June 24.

"With all the construction on the Westpark Tollway, a young alligator apparently took a wrong turn and ended up stranded in the work zone," Fulshear Police wrote. "Thankfully, the kind construction crew kept an eye on the confused 'investi-GATOR' and made sure he stayed safe until help arrived."

"Lieutenant Henry took the little traveler into custody without incident and safely returned him to a nearby lake," the post concluded. Photos show Lt. Henry posing with construction crews and holding the small alligator, before documenting the gator swimming in a body of water close by.

On April 11, Fulshear Police issued a warning for locals to be wary of alligators in the area in the spring and summer.

"As temperatures rise, alligators become more active, especially around the many lakes and waterways in Fulshear," the Facebook post read. Locals were asked to stay alert near the water and not to feed the alligators.

"Feeding them causes alligators to lose their natural fear of humans, which can lead to aggressive behavior and serious danger to people and pets," the statement read, noting that it's against the law to feed alligators in Texas.

Residents were also advised to keep children and small pets from wading through "tall grass or brush near ponds and lakes."

PEOPLE has reached out to Fulshear Police for comment.

In April, another alligator similarly made its way to a family's indoor pool in Florida. After what was initially reported as a home intruder, police found a 10-foot alligator swimming in the pool, PEOPLE previously reported.

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"What was thought to be a human intruder…turned out to be a Florida-style uninvited guest,” the Tampa Police Department (TPD) wrote on Facebook April 7.

Police said they captured the alligator with the help of a trapper, adding that “the scaly suspect was safely removed, leaving the residents to finally enjoy some well-deserved, gator-free sleep.”

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) helped police trap the alligator and remove it from the property. It remains unclear if the alligator was released into the wild.

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