A viral clip shot at a Tampa apartment complex shows an unidentified woman calmly stroking a small alligator lounging beside a pond while another resident films in disbelief. Viewers online have blasted the stunt as dangerous for both the woman and the animal, noting that habituated gators can lose their fear of people and later be euthanized as threats. Former Everglades guides chimed in, calling the behavior illegal harassment under Florida wildlife rules.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has not said if it will investigate, but social-media commenters are urging officials to track the woman down and issue a citation. Experts remind the public that even a three-foot gator has a powerful bite packed with harmful bacteria, and feeding or touching one can carry fines of up to $500 plus jail time.
Source: Herald Tribune
