Alligator Freed from Beneath Car at Southport Bank

Police and wildlife officials worked together to safely remove the trapped reptile.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 6:04am

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An extreme close-up photograph of an alligator's eye and snout, partially obscured by the undercarriage of a car, illuminated by a harsh camera flash against a pitch-black background, conceptually illustrating the tense and dangerous situation of a wild animal trapped in a populated urban area.A dramatic close-up of the alligator's eye and snout trapped beneath a car, highlighting the urgency of the situation and the need for a coordinated response.Southport Today

The Southport Police Department and Animal Protective Services responded to a call about a large alligator trapped underneath a car in the drive-thru of a Truist Bank on Thursday afternoon. Officers secured the area while waiting for North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission officials to arrive and determine the best course of action to safely relocate the unharmed alligator to a more suitable location.

Why it matters

Alligator sightings and encounters are not uncommon in coastal North Carolina, but having one become trapped in a busy bank parking lot posed a significant public safety risk that required a coordinated response from local law enforcement and wildlife authorities.

The details

According to the Southport Police Department's Facebook post, officers received the call about the alligator around 4 p.m. on Thursday. The Brunswick County Sheriff's Office animal protection services also responded to the scene to assist. Wildlife officials assessed the situation and decided the alligator needed to be relocated, so they loaded the animal and transported it to a safer area.

  • The incident occurred on Thursday, April 17, 2026 around 4 p.m.
  • This was the second time this week that Southport officers helped capture a large alligator, after removing a 12-foot gator from a residential property on Tuesday.

The players

Southport Police Department

The local law enforcement agency that responded to the call about the trapped alligator and coordinated with other authorities to safely remove the animal.

Brunswick County Sheriff's Office

The county's animal protection services unit that assisted the Southport Police Department in securing the scene and preparing for the alligator's relocation.

North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission

The state wildlife agency that ultimately determined the best course of action to safely relocate the unharmed alligator to a more suitable location.

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The takeaway

This incident highlights the importance of having coordinated emergency response protocols in place to address unexpected wildlife encounters in populated areas, in order to ensure public safety while also protecting the wellbeing of the animals involved.