[TAMPABAY] Sharks, sure. Stingrays, too. Even jellyfish.But among the dangers you'd expect to find in the Gulf of Mexico, alligators would be far down the list.
If on it at all.
But that wasn't the case Saturday in the waters just off the coast of Pasco County.
The Pasco Sheriff's Office, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and an FWC nuisance wildlife trapper responded to reports of an alligator bothering swimmers off of Durney Key, just west of Port Richey.
According to the Sheriff's Office, the gator was chasing swimmers in the Pithlachascotee (or Cotee) River, a popular spot for scallopers that feeds into the Gulf.
The trapper captured the alligator, the Sheriff's Office said in a Facebook post, with help from Sheriff's Office Maritime Operations deputies.
No swimmers were maimed.
The alligator was transported to a safe location by the trapper, according to the post.
"a safe location" = "jerky smoker"