9-foot alligator spotted roaming Brunswick County neighborhood on Memorial Day

SOUTHPORT, N.C. (WTVD) -- A nine-foot alligator turned heads in a Brunswick County neighborhood on Memorial Day, leaving many stunned by the unusual sight.

Southport police said they received nearly 20 calls from people reporting the large gator roaming through streets, resting in driveways, sniffing around flower beds, and wandering into backyards.

Officers alerted residents on social media, urging caution, as photos and comments about the unexpected visitor quickly spread online.

Some neighbors joked about the encounter, with one person calling the alligator an "eastern Carolina yard dog," while another said it must have been searching for a Memorial Day barbecue.

Police later captured the alligator and safely relocated it, officials said.