Young alligator found living it up in softball dugout at Florida high school, cops say

The challenges of high school sports took on a whole new meaning when a young alligator was found living in a softball complex on campus, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office in Florida.

It was discovered Friday, Aug. 11, the first day of school at Fort Meade Middle/Senior High School, the sheriff’s office said in a news release. The school is about 55 miles southeast of Tampa.

“Look who showed up to try out for the softball team,” the sheriff’s office wrote Aug. 11 on Facebook. “School Resource Deputy (Joseph) Clanton said this little girl was found in one of the dugouts at the softball field.”

A school custodian is credited with finding the reptile, which he originally mistook for a crocodile, officials said.

The alligator was two feet long, and was caught in the act of wallowing in a puddle on the dugout floor.

“The area had received some heavy rain the night before and the dugout was very wet,” Clanton said in an email.

“Myself and Coach Jon Spradlin were able to corral the alligator into the corner of the dugout, where we were able to maintain control of if it. A small ditch/tributary runs off of Peace River near the ball field, where we suspect it arrived from.”

The deputy placed the alligator back in the ditch and it has not been seen since, officials said.

Hundreds of people have reacted to the news on social media, with commenters noting the alligator would have been a better fit for the swim team. Others suggested the deputy start looking for the gator’s family.

“Where there’s a baby there’s a mommy not far away,” Denise Mercer posted.

Fort Meade Middle/Senior High School has about 755 students in grades 6 through 12, according to Greatschools.org.

This story was originally published August 16, 2023 at 7:15 AM with the headline "Young alligator found living it up in softball dugout at Florida high school, cops say."