One Volusia County family found themselves on a surprising rescue mission Saturday night, as they found a baby alligator alone and injured on the side of road.

  • Family contacted area non-profit for help
  • Non-profit advises others to contact a local wildlife center if larger injured gators found

Erik Dissinger and his two daughters were driving along the highway near Ormond beach when they spotted something out of the ordinary.
 
“I looked in the middle of the road and saw a baby alligator," said Dissinger. "I saw it just in time, so I didn’t run it over.”  
 
Once they got close enough, they realized someone else already had hit the gator. They immediately called the police, who then referred them to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

FWC, however, told them to let nature take its course.
 
Dissinger and his family were not ready to let that happen. They contacted the East Coast Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Port Orange, an area non-profit, and even tried to drive the little guy to the non-profit's facility themselves.

But when they gator started to thrash around, they decided to stop and wait for help to arrive.
 
“If the gator had been any bigger -- this guy is probably a couple feet -- this is the maximum that we would have people handle them,” said Sherry Wentworth, Director at East Coast Wildlife Center.  
 
Wentworth went on to say residents faced with a situation like this with a larger alligator should call a local wildlife center, and they’ll come pick up the animal. That simple phone call can make all the difference for an animal in distress.
 
“If no one wants to step up and make the call, these animals don’t stand a chance," said Wentworth. "So we really need everyone to come together and help these guys."
 
As for the Dissingers, they were happy to help and hope others will, too.
 
“Just because it’s not a cuddly animal like a cat or dog doesn’t mean we shouldn’t help it,” said Dissinger.
 
The baby gator is expected to make a full recovery. They’ll treat the trauma to his head and then begin the process of finding him a permanent home.