Forget about sharks: Swimmers find 7-foot alligator at the beach

PAWLEYS ISLAND, S.C. -- Yikes! This is what swimmers had to avoid this weekend while visiting the beach in Pawleys Island, South Carolina: A 7-foot-long alligator!

Beachgoers spotted the gator swimming along the shoreline. They all got out of the water and quickly called 911 to get the gator out too.

When animal control officers arrived at the beach, it didn't take them long to track down and capture the large beast. They then turned the gator over to a private company to release it back out into the wild.

While alligators aren't usually found in the ocean, NOAA says the reptiles can tolerate salt water for a few hours or even days at a time.