A typical gator is six feet long and 50 pounds, but they can get bigger — much, much bigger. From 12-Foot, 400-Pound Gator Captured in Miami:
A 12-foot alligator weighing more than 400 pounds and described as among the largest ever caught near downtown Miami was hoisted from a creek Monday by a firetruck.
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Hardwick and others wrapped a rope around the middle of the gator and attached the other end to a ladder fire truck, which hoisted the reptile out of the water, over a 4-foot fence and a row of parked cars.
How did the gator get downtown, and how did it get so big?
The alligator likely swam downtown years ago, when it was smaller, and lived the canal system draining the Miami Civic Center, emerging only to snatch raccoons and opossums from the bank, Hardwick said.But most of the food was delivered straight to the gator. Hardwick said the reptile likely grew fat on carcasses of animals tossed into the creek as religious sacrifices.
“They farm-raised this big boy on Santeria and voodoo,” Hardwick said.
They farm-raised this big boy on Santeria and voodoo.