Florida Man Fights Off Alligator with Pool Noodle, Later Adopts It as Emotional Support Reptile

FORT MYERS — What started as a territorial dispute in a retention pond ended with an unlikely friendship. Local resident Dale Whitmore, 41, engaged in a 15-minute battle with a 6-foot alligator using only an inflatable pool noodle and “pure adrenaline.” After successfully defending his claimed “swimming hole,” Whitmore reportedly felt bad and began leaving Hot Pockets near the water’s edge. He has since named the alligator “Sir Chomps-a-Lot” and is petitioning the county for a special permit. “We’ve developed a real bond,” Whitmore told reporters. “He recognizes my truck now. I think he prefers the pepperoni flavor, but he’ll eat the ham and cheese if that’s all I got.” Wildlife officials have warned Whitmore that feeding alligators is illegal and dangerous. Whitmore responded by asking if there’s a “grandfather clause for emotional support animals.”