A South Carolina alligator was found with a strange object on its head – and wildlife experts in Georgia were called to get to the bottom of it.
The University of Georgia Coastal Ecology Lab made a Facebook post about the 11-foot-long alligator, which has been named King Arthur, on Monday.
The lab explained that it was recently contacted about a “dominant male alligator” wearing an unusual contraption at Fripp Island Golf & Beach Resort in St. Helena Island, South Carolina.
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“After talking with them and looking at the pictures they sent, it appeared that this alligator had somehow gotten a tomato cage stuck over his head!” the lab said.
The UGA Coastal Ecology Lab’s staff cautioned against any human intervention at first, as animals can sometimes free themselves after being trapped in an object.
“The first step in situations like this is to monitor the animal closely to see if the object is affecting their normal behaviors and if they are making progress in getting free,” the lab explained.
“With this alligator, it seemed like his ability to eat might be impacted, but after 2 days he was able to break part of the cage and free his head. However, it was still attached fairly tightly around his neck.”
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After a few days, the Georgia researchers decided to take matters into their own hands – with help from the resort’s head naturalist.
“Since it did not seem like he would…
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