A 12-foot alligator blocked traffic and lunged at cars in Boiling Spring Lakes, North Carolina, prompting firefighters to use a hose to safely remove the reptilian roadblock.

In a wild scene that could have come straight out of a blockbuster movie, a 12-foot alligator halted traffic and played a dangerous game of chicken with motorists in Boiling Spring Lakes. The local sheriff's office, unable to persuade the alligator to cross the road like a duck, called in the firefighters, who managed to save the day—and several paint jobs—by hosing the gator off its personal highway. The alligator was safely relocated, much to the relief of drivers and the reptile alike, proving once again that sometimes, the best way to deal with an overgrown nuisance is a well-aimed splash of water.

Boiling Spring Lakes, a typically serene spot about 30 miles south of Wilmington, North Carolina, saw its peace shattered by an unexpected visitor. A 12-foot alligator decided that the middle of the road was the perfect place to sun itself, causing a significant disruption to traffic.

Motorists were understandably alarmed as the alligator began lunging at passing cars, turning a usual commute into a daring escapade. With the enormous reptile refusing to budge, the Brunswick County Sheriff's Office stepped in, attempting to coax the creature to leave the road. Unfortunately, attempts to shoo the alligator away or guide it across the road only resulted in what one deputy described as 'a staring contest we were destined to lose.'

Recognizing that this was not a job for the faint of heart, or the softly spoken, the sheriff's office called in reinforcements: Boiling Spring Lakes Fire Rescue. The firefighters quickly assessed the situation and ruled out the idea of simply waiting for the alligator to lose interest.

Equipped with a fire hose, the firefighters devised a plan. Their attempts were initially met with skepticism—mainly from the alligator, who seemed quite content with its chosen stretch of pavement. However, determination and a steady stream of water eventually convinced the stubborn gator to move.

The operation, lasting a tense 30 minutes, finally saw the alligator grudgingly slither back into the relative safety of nearby vegetation. Firefighters kept a watchful eye to ensure it didn’t return, only reopening the road once they were confident the reptile wouldn't make a reappearance.

'We weren't sure if we'd have to start naming it and setting a place for it at the dinner table,' joked one firefighter. Still, the method proved effective, and the Boiling Spring Lakes road was safe once more.

Calling it a successful collaboration, the Sheriff's Office thanked the firefighters for their quick and creative action. It wasn't just about clearing the road; moving the alligator likely saved its life and the lives of the motorists who could have been in danger had the situation persisted. After all, not every day do you see firefighters playing tug-of-war with a 12-foot gator!

For the residents of North Carolina, encountering an alligator isn't entirely out of the ordinary. American alligators are native to the state and typically inhabit bay lakes, rivers, creeks, marshes, swamps, and ponds. However, finding a 12-foot one on the road is enough to give even the most stoic of drivers a moment of pause.

Reflecting on the day's events, local officials hope this encounter serves as a reminder of the wild world just outside the urban bubble. As one resident humorously put it, 'Welcome to North Carolina, where even the alligators need traffic cops.'