Alligator Wanders Into North Carolina Bagel Shop

A three-foot alligator made its way into Bagel Dock Express in Southport on October 29, entering through a back door that had been left open. It moved from a stockroom into the kitchen and then reached the front of the shop, surveillance footage showed.

Owner Jesse Driscoll noticed the animal behind the counter and ran outside. He then brought another man into the shop to see what had appeared. Driscoll said he was occupied with getting a new oven installed when the alligator came in, and that he had never imagined seeing one inside the bagel shop.

Driscoll called 911. Southport police and Animal Protective Services removed the alligator safely, and no injuries were reported. The police department joked online that the alligator had scored a point, while the shop called it an unusual customer and quipped that its fresh bagels had reached the swamp.

The shop shared surveillance footage of the animal’s route through the building.