Reported By Greg Pallone
SATELLITE BEACH -- If you've headed out to portions of Brevard County's beaches over the past day, the talk is about a creature that is out of place.
News 13’s cameras were there Tuesday as an alligator was spotted in the shallow ocean waters near Hightower Beach. It was originally identified as a crocodile, but later confirmed to be an alligator.
Lifeguards said the alligator was first noticed June 20 near 3rd Street in Cocoa Beach, which is 15 miles away.
On Tuesday, lifeguards thought they were seeing double as they spotted a crocodile right near the alligator.
Beachgoers were surprised, but wanted to record the moment.
’We had to run up and get the camera, and he had gone under so I was worried I didn't get a picture of him. But when he came back up, I was excited to zoom in on him,” said Felicia Schirack.
“Stay away from him as far as possible. The biggest issue is their aggression. We've been walking the beach warning people if we do see it,” said Chief Jeff Scabarozi from Brevard Ocean Rescue.
Alligators are rarely seen in the ocean, the prefer freshwater, while crocodiles are more partial to brackish water, which is water with a salt lever between fresh and seawater.
Officials hope they'll continue to float down the coast and make their way back inland through the Indian River.
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