Environment

11-foot alligator halts I-75 traffic near Paynes Prairie; UF expert advises patience

An 11-foot alligator shut down a stretch of Interstate 75 near Paynes Prairie on Sunday afternoon, backing up traffic as far as Butler Plaza before the animal moved off on its own. A University of Florida alligator expert advised motorists who encounter a gator on the road to stop and wait rather than attempt to move or drive over the animal, warning that the reptile can cause serious damage to a vehicle.

Sources: WCJB TV20