A 12-foot-long alligator was discovered Monday in a very busy thoroughfare in Mont Belvieu, Texas, which is located approximately 30 miles east of Houston.
The gator was found in a shallow drainage ditch in the middle of town on Eagle Drive.
Brian Ligon, Communications and Marketing Director for the City of Mont Belvieu said they needed to "act fast" because the ditch is close to a neighborhood.
"Having a gator of that size that close, not only to the road, but a heavily-utilized sidewalk, was a big concern," Ligon said.
Get DFW local news, weather forecasts and entertainment stories to your inbox. Sign up for NBC DFW newsletters.
Animal control acted quickly to capture the animal, but due to its size, they reached out to the Mont Belvieu Public Works Department to figure out a way to remove it safely.
They devised an innovative plan. In a first, they used the town's grapple truck to lift the gigantic gator out of the ditch, carefully up in the air, and safely into the back of the vehicle.
The animal was turned over to the game warden. No injuries were reported.
“It was truly a team effort today. Great grab, guys!” the Mont Belvieu officials posted on Facebook.
Ligon said that while alligators are common in the area, one this big is unusual.
"This is the first time we've encountered a gator that large in the center of town."
The town's animal control team said they average approximately 10 alligator removal calls a year.
