Golfers on a course in Florida got quite the shock on Saturday when a large alligator started trotting across the green.
The large reptile was spied walking between ponds on the golf course Saturday, but the story gained widespread attention Wednesday following reporting by Palm Beach television station WPTV.
Pictures posted to the Facebook page of the Myakka Pines Golf Club show that the gator could easily be longer than 6 feet. Some have said the whole event is a hoax, but the pictures appear to be genuine and were posted by multiple golfers and club employees.
Alligators are a not uncommon sight in Florida, and the state’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has even produced a brochure titled “Living with Alligators.”
“Observe and photograph alligators only from a distance,” the brochure recommends. “Remember, they’re an important part of Florida’s natural history as well as an integral component of aquatic ecosystems.”
• Phillip Swarts can be reached at pswarts@washingtontimes.com.
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