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Alert by Road Ranger leads to arrest of suspected poachers

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said its officers charged two people with the illegal take of an alligator after reportedly finding a freshly killed gator in the pickup truck the pair was traveling in. (Contributed)

FLORIDA – A observant Road Ranger alerted the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) after reportedly witnessing two individuals loading what appeared to be a freshly killed alligator into their truck.

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), its officers responded promptly and coordinated with FHP to apprehend the suspects involved thanks to the timely relay of information from the FHP.

“When a Road Ranger stopped to assist someone they thought was a stranded motorist but then saw two people far off the roadway with what appeared to be a freshly killed alligator, the Florida Highway Patrol relayed the information to our officers,” said the FWC in a social media post.

Upon receiving the report from the FHP, the FWC said its officers utilized traffic cameras to obtain real-time updates on the suspects’ location as they allegedly fled on Interstate 75.

The joint efforts culminated in the successful apprehension of the suspects, who allegedly were discovered with the poached alligator concealed in a tarp within their vehicle. Upon closer inspection, officers discovered a long metal shaft still connected to a speargun protruding from the alligator’s skull, the FWC said.

Both individuals were charged with the illegal take of an alligator and subsequently taken into custody.

Illegal poaching of alligators and other protected wildlife remains a persistent concern in the state of Florida.

The FWC encourages citizens to remain vigilant and report any suspicious wildlife activities promptly.

Options to report a wildlife violation:

Call our Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (888-404-3922).

Text 847411 (Tip411) with keyword “FWC” and information about the violation.

Submit a tip online at MyFWC.com/WildlifeAlert.

Download the “FWC Wildlife Alert” app (available on Google Play or Apple Store).

The Road Rangers are roving vehicles that patrol congested areas and high incident locations of the Interstate and provide a direct service to motorists. Road Rangers is a service provided by the Florida Department of Transportation.

Niceville.com