Investigators remove alligator from Gulfport worship service

Investigators responded to an uninvited alligator at a worship service in Gulfport and safely removed the animal, a Facebook post said.

The post praised the investigators for stepping in when someone brought the uninvited guest to the service. It said the responders were able to “safely wrangle” the “little guy” and help him find a more suitable place to worship, and included the hashtags “#SeeYouLaterAlligator” and “#GulfportProud.”

The Facebook post did not identify the agency or give a precise location or time. Local authorities and animal-control teams commonly handle wildlife encounters in populated areas, relocating animals to reduce risk to people and the animals themselves.

Alligators and other wildlife occasionally appear in developed communities, particularly near bodies of water. Officials generally advise residents and visitors not to approach wild animals and to contact local animal control or law enforcement when an animal is in a public place.

We will provide more information as it becomes available.