I-10 Commuters Get Surprise Visitor: Ryan St Ramp in Lake Charles
Heading to work, sometimes you never know what you will see. Could be a random box, toolbox, ice chest, or maybe even an alligator. That last one was the case yesterday as travelers were on the on-ramp at Ryan Street and I-10. This commuter was on foot, perhaps hitchhiking.
Stephanie and Winston caught the comings and goings of this giant dinosaur hanging out on the Ryan Street on-ramp in Lake Charles. Winston did say that he has hunted them before and estimates it to be 12 feet long as it laid out across the road causing a bit of a traffic backup during its nap. An article in South Easter Outdoors does claim that a 12-foot alligator can weigh anywhere from 475 pounds up to 525 pounds. Alligators of that size are very rare, but even an 11-foot can weigh around 400 pounds. I'd say that I would not be the one to run out and measure it nor weigh it, so I will just agree that it was huge and move on!
I was a bit confused about where this one would have come from, it's pretty far away from the water that is just down the road on Ryan Street. I pulled up Google maps to refresh myself. There is a drainage canal and little swamp back there just on the other side of the tree line where he is hanging out. Since he is probably one of the only ones hanging out there, I would guess he really has no threats to himself and he would be the king of the swamp in that area. I certainly won't be going to try and take that crown from him.
Just another great reminder to not pick up hitchhikers alongside the road even if they have a nice toothy smile like this guy!
LOOK: 30 fascinating facts about sleep in the animal kingdom