Washington, D.C., residents witnessed an unusual sight this week when a small alligator was spotted swimming in the Washington Channel at The Wharf. The reptile, measuring about two-and-a-half feet long, was eventually captured by a resident before being turned over to authorities.
The First Sighting
On Thursday morning, the dockmaster at The Wharf marina issued an alert to residents after what appeared to be a juvenile alligator was seen in the channel. For locals, it was an unexpected warning—alligators are not native to the District.
Phoenix Norwood, a 23-year-old who lives on a nearby houseboat, decided to take a closer look. “I saw him right there suntanning, and they tried to get it, and he splooshed right back into the water,” Norwood said.
A Florida-Style Capture
After searching for more than an hour, Norwood spotted the reptile again. Armed with a long-handled net borrowed from his family’s houseboat, he scooped the animal from the water.
“I took the net, scooped him up, and then I kind of twisted the net and held it down to the ground until the authorities arrived,” he explained. A photo taken shortly afterward shows Norwood, still in pajama pants, holding the netted gator as D.C. Animal Control prepared to take custody.
Norwood admitted it wasn’t an easy task. “He was squirming; he was doing all kinds of stuff,” he said.
Authorities Step In
D.C. police documented the incident, and Animal Control officers transported the reptile away from the scene. The small alligator was unharmed during the capture.
Authorities are still unsure how the animal ended up in the Washington Channel, but the leading theory is that it was a discarded pet. Keeping an alligator as a pet is illegal in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia.
A Rare Urban Encounter
Though small compared to Florida’s swamp giants, the discovery of an alligator in D.C. waters caused quite a stir. Norwood, who has seen many animals while living along the water, said this one topped the list.
“Catching an alligator, that’s a rite of passage in Florida, but in the District? Not so much,” he joked. “You got your lawyers, your politicians, but alligator wranglers? Not exactly.”
Exotic Pets and Public Safety
The case highlights ongoing concerns about exotic pet ownership in urban areas. When released into the wild, animals like alligators can pose dangers to both people and the local ecosystem. In many instances, owners release them when they grow too large to manage, leading to encounters such as the one at The Wharf.
For residents, it was a memorable—if unexpected—reminder that wild animals don’t belong in city waterways. Thanks to quick thinking and a sturdy net, the incident ended safely, with no injuries to either people or the reptile.
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