A quest to capture a live alligator Monday night left a Sanford man with two bites and a ticket.
Officials with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said Dirk Alan Willms, 44, told an officer he saw the alligator crossing a road around the corner from his Lemon Street home and grabbed it by the tail.
The 45-inch reptile bit Willms on the leg and then crawled into some bushes. But, Willms reportedly told officers he pursued the alligator and it bit him again.
A witness called the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, which alerted the wildlife commission.
Officer Naomii Tye responded and found Willms with the reptile. She issued him a ticket for possessing an alligator, a second-degree misdemeanor, punishable by up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine.
Tye reported Willms said he should have cut the gator’s tail off and left it where he caught it, which he had done before. She released the reptile into nearby Lake Jesup.
Alligators considered a threat to public safety should be reported to the wildlife commission, Tye stated. No matter the reptile’s size, it’s against the law for people to capture or possess alligators without a permit. Violations can be reported anonymously to the state’s wildlife hot line at 888-404-3922. To report a nuisance alligator, call 352-732-1225.