Moss Point residents speak on recent alligator sightings

Many residents along River Road in Moss Point are just a close distance from the waterfront, so alligator sightings are mostly nothing out of the normal. However, recently  it seems to be happening more frequently as there have been multiple alligator sightings over the past week.

“They had one across the street come out. He was about an eight footer and came up and laid on their yard. It turned around and the neighbor probably walked up about twenty feet from him. It finally walked across, went across River Road and went down in the water and left. We’re not sure what that was about, ” said Fred Amos, a Moss Point resident who has lived with his wife, Karen Amos, along River Road for the last nine years.

Although they have yet to have any serious problems with the alligators, that doesn’t stop Mr. and Mrs. Amos from being cautious.

“If we have one come out we’ll do something with it. We’ll call somebody and say hey we have a large gator on our property, come and take it away or whatever, ” said Mr. Amos when asked about how he would handle a gator coming onto his property.

“We don’t have any pets but people who have pets, I can see where they have the concern probably more than we would. I don’t want to encounter one but you use common sense and you stay away from them, ” said Karen Amos.

For some residents, such as Lenzy Benton, alligator encounters along their property are just a part of everyday life.

“Well, what we have is little small gators that come out to sun. Every now and then you see a big one one that rolls out through there, about a sixteen or fourteen footer. But its not scary, its just something that happens everyday.”

Even if alligators are a common occurrence, Moss Point Animal Control Officer, Michelle Harlow, still advises residents to stay safe and use their best judgment.

“Just be aware of your surroundings and if you see one don’t approach it, don’t try to feed it. Call 1-800-BE-SMART and call wildlife, call your local police department and we’ll come help.”