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MIAMI HERALD (Florida) 14 June 03 Alligator's death at home a mystery -- for a time (Trenton Daniel)
Maggie Tatton gets home delivery, but she doesn't expect to find a four-foot-long alligator alongside her morning paper on her front porch.
'She started screaming, `Oh my God! Oh my God!' '' said Lord Tousaint, who rushed to the entrance of their Coral Gables home Friday morning to find his girlfriend shielding herself behind the front door. But the reptile was no threat to anyone -- it lay on the front porch, bleeding from a gash on its backside -- its powerful jaws permanently stilled.
Police got called. Squad cars came. Yellow crime scene tape was put to use.
Yes, the alligator was dead, but police could not say for certain how it died or how it made its way to the alcove.
''It's not clear who committed this act or if it was an accident,'' said Coral Gables Sgt. Raul Pedroso. ``It's been killed -- we're not sure how.''
Clues to what might have happened seemed elusive. A circular driveway showed no signs of a bloody trail from the street. There was, however, a canal behind the home at 4915 Orduna Dr.
Police summoned the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, although it took a while for backup to arrive -- personnel were busy trying to confiscate a stray gator at a warehouse in Medley.
Then again, it's that time of year. With seasonal showers under way, canals fill with water, making it easier for the reptiles to get terrestrial, the wildlife commission said.
Officer Luis Delgado walked briskly to the porch and picked up -- with his bare hands -- the animal by its tail. He has done this before, after all.
The alligator's backside folded over and revealed a slit, a foot and a half long, the width of a tire. Officials ruled out foul play and called the death an accident.
''Obviously,'' said Delgado, ``it looks like it was hit by a car and it crawled off.''
With no need for an investigation, Delgado tossed the dead animal in the bed of his truck and left.
Alligator's death at home a mystery -- for a time

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