{"id":216,"date":"2026-05-13T18:11:31","date_gmt":"2026-05-13T18:11:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/raleighmovingnews.com\/?p=216"},"modified":"2026-05-13T18:11:31","modified_gmt":"2026-05-13T18:11:31","slug":"gators-14-death-rolls-complicate-capture-as-2-north-carolina-coastal-towns-cope-with-large-alligators-in-two-days","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/raleighmovingnews.com\/?p=216","title":{"rendered":"Gator\u2019s 14 \u2018death rolls\u2019 complicate capture as 2 North Carolina coastal towns cope with large alligators in two days"},"content":{"rendered":"
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RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) \u2014 Two communities on the southeastern North Carolina coast dealt with two large alligators this week, with the four officers struggling to secure a massive gator that made several \u201cdeath rolls\u201d during capture at one beach town.<\/p>

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The most recent incident in two Brunswick County towns involved a 400-pound gator that was at least 25 years old, according to police at Sunset Beach, a small island adjacent to the South Carolina line.<\/p>\n

The nearly 11-foot alligator was reported Monday by a Sea Trail resident, who said it was nearly in the street, a Sunset Beach Police news release said.<\/p>\n

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The large alligator in Southport on Sunday. Photo courtesy: Southport Police Dept.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A team of officers set up a plan to capture the gator. In a video from Sunset Beach police, four men are seen holding a line attached to the alligator, which tries to break free.<\/p>\n

In just 20 secondsof video, the alligator made 14 flips called \u201cdeath rolls,\u201d a spinning move the wild animals use to drown, crush, or disable prey.<\/p>\n

Eventually, the crews subdued the massive alligator, which was released into a nearby pond.<\/p>

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