Alligator spotted in Florida causing concern among residents

Video above: Alligator spotted eating another gator by Florida woman on running trail

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A chunky alligator is causing growing concern in the Florida community of Temple Terrace.

Residents are worried the gator could potentially cause harm to a passerby or get out of the fenced-in area through a gaping hole in one of the gates.

Photos show the massive reptile sprawled out in a pile of mulch with various trash and debris littered around the animal.

Construction crews nearby told NewsNation affiliate WFLA that people in the area have been feeding him — something that is illegal and dangerous. Crews said the gator has been there for a “really long time.”

It’s unclear what led the gator to make this location it’s home or if wildlife officials have been notified of its presence.

In the state of Florida, it’s illegal to kill or harass an alligator without a permit. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission also advises citizens not to bother or feed the animals.

Anyone with concerns about an alligator should call the agency’s Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 866-FWC-GATOR (866-392-4286).

Here are some tips the FWC said people should know when dealing with alligators in Florida:

• Keep a safe distance if you see an alligator.
• Keep pets on a leash and away from the water’s edge. Pets often resemble alligators’ natural prey.
• Swim only in designated swimming areas during daylight hours and without your pet. Alligators are most active between dusk and dawn.
• Never feed an alligator. It’s illegal and dangerous. When fed, alligators can lose their natural wariness and instead learn to associate people with the availability of food, which can lead to dangerous circumstances for yourself and others who could encounter the alligator in the future.