Large Alligator Found Under Car at NC Bank Drive-Thru After Collision — Here’s the Full Story
If you’ve seen the wild headline about an alligator getting struck by a car at a bank drive-thru in North Carolina, yes, it’s real. And the details are exactly as absurd as they sound.
What Actually Happened In Southport
On April 16, the Southport Police Department shared a Facebook post confirming that a large alligator was struck by a vehicle in the drive-thru of a Truist Bank in Southport, North Carolina. Officers from the Southport Police Department, Southport Animal Protective Services and the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office all responded to the scene.
The agencies set up a perimeter around the vehicle, and the alligator was removed from underneath the car. The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission then arrived to evaluate the animal on-site.
According to the police department’s post, “NC Wildlife arrived and determined the gator would need to be relocated.” The post continued: “The gator was loaded and transported away to a safer location.”
So the gator survived, got a ride and ended up somewhere presumably far from banking traffic. Not the worst outcome for a reptile that wandered into the wrong lane.
Why This Keeps Happening In North Carolina
This isn’t just a one-off bizarre moment. It’s part of a growing pattern that wildlife officials in North Carolina have been trying to get ahead of.
The Southport Police Department warned the public that increased alligator activity is expected in warmer months. Their safety guidance included several reminders: avoid feeding alligators, do not dispose of fish or food scraps in water, supervise people and pets, keep a safe distance and remain vigilant near water.
Behind the scenes, the NCWRC has been tracking just how frequent these encounters have become. According to a press release for the commission’s new GatorWise program, the majority of its public calls concern alligators. That’s worth repeating — of all the wildlife calls coming into the state commission, gators top the list.
North Carolina’s ‘GatorWise’ campaign
In 2025, the NCWRC launched GatorWise, a program designed to educate the public on coexisting with alligators. The initiative arrived as North Carolina’s population growth continues to push development into areas where alligators have long lived.
NCWRC Wildlife Biologist Alicia Wassmer explained the reasoning: “As development continues to expand into once-remote areas where alligators live, we need to become GatorWise in order to safely share the land with this species.”
Wassmer also pointed to just how rapidly the overlap between humans and alligator habitat is accelerating.
“Urbanization is projected to increase at exponential rates in areas where alligator habitat occurs,” Wassmer said. “This continuous conversion of natural spaces, coupled with a constant influx of newcomers who may not know that alligators are here or aren’t familiar with alligator behavior, has amplified the need for state wildlife resource agencies to proactively connect residents and visitors with vital information on how to coexist responsibly with the alligators that live in these communities.”
This article was created by content specialists using various tools, including AI.
