Alligator seen swimming along Florida’s Fort Myers Beach

FORT MYERS BEACH, Fla. — Humans aren’t the only ones heading to the coast for a beach vacation.

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According to WINK-TV and WBBH-TV, visitors to Florida’s Fort Myers Beach spotted an alligator swimming along the shore Tuesday morning.

Beachgoer Angela Fleming captured a video of the reptile swimming slowly near the Fort Myers Pier, WBBH reported. Meanwhile, Anne Catalina of Pennsylvania snapped a photo of the gator in the Gulf waters, according to the news outlet.

“I was like, ‘Oh, my God, it’s in the ocean,’” Catalina told WBBH.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission responded but did not remove the alligator from the water, WBBH reported. It eventually swam away from the pier and likely will return to its natural habitat, officials said.

Although gators spend most of their time in fresh water, they “can tolerate salt water for a few hours or even days,” according to the National Ocean Service. Sightings tend to increase in the spring during mating season, the FWC said.

If you see a gator, “keep your distance,” the FWC told WBBH. Humans should not feed the reptiles, the agency said.

People can report nuisance gators to the FWC by calling 1-866-392-4286.

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