Alligator Shows Up At Micro Man's Home

An alligator, nicknamed Oswald, was captured at a home in Micro Thursday night. Johnston County Animal Service officers will keep Oswald until NC Wildlife officials pick him up next week and relocate him to a more natural habitat along the coast, according to Animal Services Director Ernie Wilkinson.

A Micro homeowner got the surprise of his life Thursday night after an alligator wondered up to his home. For the past year, animal control officers had received reports of a gator in ponds and streams off Old Beulah Road . Thursday night, Animal Control Officer Tracy Langdon, who is the department’s reptile expert, was on call when the gator report came in. Ernie Wilkinson, Johnston County Animal Services Director, said the gator, nicknamed Oswald by his captors, is 5 feet long and weighs 50 pounds. A biologist with NC Wildlife is expected to pick up the alligator next week and release him in a more natural habitat along with southeastern North Carolina coast. Until then, Oswald will spend Easter weekend at the Johnston County Animal Shelter in his very own cage.