A close to 400-pound alligator, measuring nearly 10 feet in length, caused a stir in North Carolina’s Onslow County when it was seen reclining along the roadside of Old 30 Road. The large reptile, now lovingly referred to as ‘Pepe the Gator’, was safely rounded up by Onslow County Sheriff’s Office deputies and North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission officers on Wednesday, May 28.
The Sheriff’s Office soon made the bizarre event viral gold using a light-hearted Facebook post that charmed social media users. Calling Pepe a ‘prehistoric perp’, the post playfully joked about the alligator’s behavior along the road:
“Wednesday, May 28, 2025, Onslow County deputies and NC Wildlife Resources Commission officers corralled this ancient perpetrator off the road today after he was apprehended lurking along the double yellow line on Old 30 Road. Witnesses describe him simply chillin’ and snapping, evidently disregarding the ‘no loitering or lounging on roadways’ sign.”
Mock Charges Filed Against Pepe
The lighthearted mood was maintained as the Sheriff’s Office posted satirical ‘charges’ against the alligator, such as: “Pepe, the Gator, 350–400 pounds, and nearly 10 feet long, has been charged with Suspicion of Being a Dinosaur Without Proper Documents, Public Loitering with Intent to Sunbathe, and Obstructing Traffic. Deputies indicated that no one was injured, unless you include his pride when the gator didn’t cooperate being cuffed. We’re told the gator has been relocated safely and no, he didn’t get to sit shotgun.”
Photos accompanying the post featured the gargantuan gator resting next to the pavement, flanked by law enforcement officials who looked both tickled and wary. Commentators on social media filled the comments with their own taste for humor and admiration for the department’s sense of humor.
Pepe’s Relocation: A Safe Ending
According to a People report, the Sheriff’s Office confirmed that following the lighthearted photo opportunity, Pepe was escorted safely to Camp Geiger, a U.S. Marine Corps installation in Jacksonville, North Carolina. Officials estimated that the gator had most likely wandered three to five miles from the nearest body of water.
“Such was lost and wasn’t where it should be,” a representative informed People, assuring that the gator was relocated to a better environment.
Pepe’s adventure might have momentarily disrupted traffic, but his surprise visit brought smiles—and a welcome dash of humor to the local community.
