After Madison Stephan took it for a birthday photo session, Florida officials rescued a juvenile alligator from a hotel bathtub. Stephan, a former employee at Croc Encounters in Tampa, unlawfully used her old keys to retrieve the reptile. A friend mentioned Stephan wanted a “birthday surprise” from her previous workplace.
The cold water left the gator chilly to touch, as the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reported. While Croc Encounters confirmed Stephan’s past employment, the owner chose not to press theft charges but highlighted her lack of authority to access the facility. Stephan now faces a court notice for possessing the alligator.
