Tailless Alligator Spotted on Highway 23 in Louisiana

A tailless alligator was filmed crossing Highway 23 in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, drawing widespread attention after Ashlyn Bartholomew's video went viral online. Reptile experts, including Robert Mendyk from the Audubon Zoo, noted that alligators can survive tail amputations caused by fights or boat propellers thanks to their strong healing abilities. Social media responses included concern for the animal and calls for wildlife authorities to step in. The event highlights both the adaptability of alligators and growing public interest in unique wildlife encounters. In the region, an 8-foot alligator was killed in Alabama after a vehicle collision, showing the sometimes hazardous interactions between humans and alligators. Additionally, environmental restoration at a Mississippi Superfund cleanup site has unintentionally created favorable habitats for alligators.