Surveillance video from Bagel Dock Express in Southport, North Carolina, shows the young American alligator making its way across the parking area and into the shop between 4:30 and 4:40 p.m. The shop was closed to customers at the time, but owner Jesse Driscoll was installing a new oven when he rounded a corner and came face to face with the unexpected visitor.
A three-foot alligator turned a regular afternoon at a bagel shop into a memorable wildlife encounter!
It wandered in through an open back door, through the kitchen, and up to the front counter as if waiting to place an order.
“It’s just so far out of the ordinary for a bagel shop,” Driscoll later told local station WWAY. “You can see lots of things. People coming in. Friends coming in to say hi. But never in a million years did I think I’d see an alligator.”
Footage captured Driscoll’s startled reaction as he jumped back and, according to some reports, briefly grabbed a chair. He called 911. Southport Police officers responded along with Animal Protective Services Officer Katie Ward, who safely captured the reptile and relocated it to a nearby wilderness area. No one was injured.
The shop embraced the moment with humour on Facebook: “Apparently, word of our fresh bagels has made its way into the swamp! Local law enforcement safely escorted our surprise visitor out. No injuries, no drama… just one VERY unusual customer! Fresh bagels. Wild experiences.”
Alligators are native to coastal North Carolina, including the Southport area. Local authorities have handled similar calls before, including reports of larger alligators near homes and businesses earlier this year. The roughly three-foot specimen that visited Bagel Dock Express was on the smaller side and appears to have slipped in through an open door.
How would you feel if you were after a bagel and a croc walked in?
