Nature reclaims the city: Alligator strides through deserted shopping center in South Carolina as locals stay home amid coronavirus pandemic
- An alligator was seen confidently walking onto a sidewalk at Barefoot Landing in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
- Clifford Sosis shot video of the alligator strolling around the outdoor shopping area on Wednesday, which is usually busy with shoppers
- Despite South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster not issuing a state-wide stay-at-home, residents seem to be pretty clear from public spaces
- Other states have reported animals roaming around in areas normally inhabited by humans, who are now practicing social distancing to avoid of coronavirus
- The open public spaces that are normally inhabited by humans could be emboldening wildlife to come out in public
An alligator ignored suggestions to stay at home duting the coronavirus pandemic, and was seen walking around outside a shopping center in South Carolina.
Although there is no state-wide stay-in-order in place, there were few people around at Barefoot Landing in Myrtle Beach to scare the animal away on Wednesday
Clifford Sosis captured video of the alligator walking around the usually-busy shopping area – outside a Christmas ornaments store.
‘It appears nature is already beginning to reclaim this little bit of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina,’ Sosis can be heard saying in the video.
‘That is a real-life gator hanging out in the middle of this otherwise busy — or usually busy — shopping center. I guess he is planning on going to Christmas Mouse. Pretty crazy.’
An alligator approaches a promenade at Barefoot Landing in Myrtle Beach on Wedneday
The alligator is taking advantage of no stay-at-home order being in place in South Carolina
South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster has been reluctant to order a shelter-in-place measure for the state, but did direct all non-essential businesses to close last Wednesday.
And with many residents staying at home, the animal had free rein of the area.
The next day, Folly Beach Public Safety in South Carolina also got reports of an alligator hanging out on a beach.
Other states have reported animals roaming around in areas normally inhabited by humans, who are now practicing social distancing to avoid of coronavirus
The following day, public safety officials in South Carolina also got reports of another alligator hanging out on a beach
Gov McMaster has also encouraged social distancing and closed a limited amount of outdoor public spaces.
South Carolina is one of nine states throughout the country with no state-wide stay-at-home order in place.
As of April 4, South Carolina has more than 1,900 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including 40 deaths, according to the state’s health department website.
