Don’t ever block traffic in Broward County, Florida. You just might end up deep-fried if you do. The Miami Herald has the story:

The nine-foot alligator that was cornered and captured Tuesday morning after a traffic-stopping appearance at U.S. 441 and Bailey Road was sold to a processing facility for $280.

His meat will be breaded and deep-fried, his hide transformed into designer shoes and wallets and his bones used to make soap, said Brian Wood, owner of All American Gator Products.

That’s hard knocks for the gator, I guess. Still, the article indicates he had his chance to make a clean getaway and didn’t take it:

The alligator wandered onto the road at about 7:15 a.m. Construction workers spotted the reptile and called 911, bringing a small swarm of deputies. They surrounded the animal as traffic was reduced to one lane.

”This is the Broward Sheriff’s Office,” a deputy barked into a bullhorn. “Get back into the canal!”

No reaction from the gator.

The deputy continued: “Move back! Move back!”

Nothing.

Eventually it meandered about 100 feet or so, migrating from traffic lanes to the sidewalk.

Hmmm, Broward Sheriff’s Department might want to stop using episodes of Reno 911! as a training guide. I’m just sayin’.

Oh, and for the record, I have eaten Alligator and, yes, it does taste like chicken.