A 6-foot alligator was trapped in a drainage pipe in a South Carolina gated community for several months before being rescued this week. Residents in Port Royal Plantation first spotted the alligator in October when its snout was seen sticking out of a metal grate. Matt Kraycar, owner of K&K Wildlife Services, was finally able to free the gator after it had been stuck in the small pipe for an unknown amount of time.
Kraycar speculated that the alligator likely became trapped in the pipe after making a tight turn and being unable to turn around. Neighbors had occasionally seen the gator in the drain over the past few months and contacted Kraycar once they realized it was stuck. Using a catchpole, Kraycar was able to remove the metal grate and tug the gator out in about 10 minutes of pulling.
Despite being stuck in the pipe for several months, the gator did not appear to be malnourished. Kraycar estimated the alligator to be about 6 years old and mentioned that some of its skin had been worn down to the bone from the drain. The gator likely survived by feeding on small fish that entered the drainage water, and it may have benefited from being in brumation during its stay, a period of dormancy for most gators during the winter.
After being freed from the drain, Kraycar released the gator about 50 yards away from the drain into the Hilton Head lagoon. Although it hobbled off initially, Kraycar believed the gator would not have any issues since they are typically strong animals. Kraycar noted that his company removes about one gator per year from local drainage systems, which are often connected to water reservoirs frequented by the animals.
Overall, the alligator stuck in the drainage pipe in the South Carolina gated community was successfully rescued after months of being trapped. Kraycar’s expertise and use of a catchpole helped free the gator without any significant issues. Despite some skin abrasions from the pipe, the gator did not appear to be malnourished, likely due to feeding on small fish during its confinement. The release of the gator back into the Hilton Head lagoon marked the end of its ordeal, and Kraycar mentioned that it was not uncommon to encounter gators stuck in drainage systems in the area.
