A 7-and-a-half-foot alligator was captured near City Park over the weekend, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries officials said.

The alligator was captured on Saturday by a nuisance trapper. It was later euthanized, an LDWF spokesperson confirmed. Photos and video of the captured alligator taken by the Marconi Drive bicycle path near Allen Toussaint Boulevard were shared on social media over the weekend.

Wildlife agents were initially looking for a second, larger alligator that had been reported at around 10 feet. But on Monday, Rene LeBreton, an LDWF spokesperson, confirmed the gator already captured matched the description of the reported alligator.

“…The gator that was believed to be a 10-footer had a distinct underbite, and the 7.5 (foot) alligator that was caught had that same underbite, LeBreton said. “So this is most likely the one that was believed to be larger.”

A nuisance tracker will continue inspecting and monitoring the area around Marconi Drive and Allen Toussaint Boulevard for additional alligators, Keith Claverie, a spokesperson for City Park said. Prior to the weekend spotting, City Park police received two calls about alligators in the past three months, Claverie said.

“As a 1,300-acre urban greenspace with lagoons, bayous and other natural habitats, City Park is home to a variety of wildlife, including alligators,” Claverie said. “We continue to monitor alligator activity and work with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and our licensed trapper when intervention is necessary.”

Nuisance alligators are those that have lost their fear of humans, creating dangerous situations for those who come near them, according to LDWF. One of the main ways nuisance alligators begin to lose their natural fear of humans is due to feeding, whether intentional or unintentional. 

Alligator safety tips

If you see an alligator in your area, here are a few safety tips from LDWF:

Never feed alligators.

Don’t dispose of fish or food scraps in water.

Never harass, capture or attempt to handle an alligator. Louisiana law prohibits these actions.

Be responsible for people and pets in your care.

Maintain awareness anytime you are in or near water.

Don’t allow small children to play unsupervised in or around water.

Don’t swim at night or during dusk or dawn when alligators are most active.

If you encounter a nuisance alligator, you can report the sighting to your local LDWF office.