Watch as huge, 12-foot alligator dangles from grip of grapple truck in Texas

In an unexpected turn of events this week, a Texas alligator found itself taking an impromptu journey after being removed from a roadside with the help of heavy-duty equipment.

In a video shared by the city of Mont Belvieu, TX on Monday, teams from Animal Control and Public Works can be observed collaborating to relocate a 12-foot alligator from its spot in a roadside ditch.

Using a sizable grapple truck typically utilized for waste collection, the clip depicts the truck’s arm extending to reach the standing water where the alligator had been residing.

With precision, the mechanical hand of the truck secures the reptile, lifting it high into the air, its formidable tail swaying in the breeze.

The skilled operator of the truck adeptly maneuvers the claw, securely grasping the alligator, whose tail and head hang over the sides, above the roadway, and onto a receptacle on the back of the vehicle.

The creature is gently lowered into the garbage truck-like bucket on the truck bed, ready to be transported to a safer habitat.

“See ya later, alligator! It was truly a team effort today,” exclaimed the city in an Instagram post. “Great job, everyone!”

Thankfully, no injuries were reported to either citizens or the alligator during the operation.