Alligator crawls out from storm drain behind Louisiana school

April 18 (UPI) -- A group of men in a Louisiana neighborhood captured a 7-foot alligator that emerged from a storm drain behind an elementary school.

Witnesses said the alligator emerged from the drain behind Marie Riviere Elementary School, in the Bucktown area of Jefferson Parish, and started moving around shortly after heavy rains around midday Monday.

The school did not hold classes Monday due to the Spring Break holiday.

"First his head emerged out of the drain, and then his whole body," Metairie resident Steven Nicholson told WWL-TV.

Bucktown resident Paul D'Anna and a group of other men wrangled the alligator until wildlife officials arrived and placed it in the back of a pickup truck.

"I'm glad wildlife is here to take care of it now," D'Anna said, "Because believe me, it's a lot of anxiety for me."

The alligator will reportedly be relocated to Bayou Segnette.

"I couldn't believe it," Nicholson said, "Doesn't happen everyday, and I hope it doesn't happen again."