Hope Mills Alligator Caught

*Posting this for {me} for future scrapping reference! Fayetteville Observer Online - Wednesday June 23, 2010

http://fayobserver.com/articles/2010/06/23/1008591?sac=Local



Published: 10:53 PM, Tue Jun 22, 2010
Hope Mills alligator caught

A staff report

Wildlife officers captured the elusive alligator at the foot of the Hope Mills dam Tuesday evening.

Police Chief Robert Hassell said the gator was spotted by an employee at Big T's about 2:30 p.m. in what's left of Hope Mills Lake, which was drained last week because of problems with the dam.

Cumberland County Animal Services and officials from the N.C. Wildlife Commission captured the gator about 7 p.m., Hassell said.

Wildlife officials planned to release the alligator in the Green Swamp Preserve in Brunswick County.

The 5-foot alligator first appeared in the lake June 9 and was a regular attraction for parkgoers and the curious alike. Town officials closed the lake to swimmers until they came up with a plan for what to do about it.

The alligator was believed to have left the lake when it had to be drained. It was spotted Tuesday for the first time since the lake was emptied.