MILWAUKEE -- A four-foot alligator chewed its way out of a shipping carton before a postal worker tossed it into a hamper and called animal control officers.
Employees were sorting mail Friday when they noticed the alligator chewing its way out of an Express Mail box, said JoAnne Blackburn, a Postal Service spokeswoman.
Workers tried to tape the box closed, but the alligator bit it open.
"The nose ... was sticking out with its teeth hanging out," said postal employee Jennifer Hejdak. She said a co-worker picked it up by its tail and threw it in a hamper.
The alligator will remain at a shelter for a week before being shipped to a northern Illinois sanctuary, said Len Selkurt, executive director of the Milwaukee Area Domestic Animal Control. The sanctuary owner will then take it to Florida, he said.
Alligators longer than 20 inches are not allowed to be sent through the mail, and officials said the shipment from Milwaukee to Colorado was under review.
posted on November 15, 2003 09:20:28 PM new
Saw that on the news. See it isn't safe to be a postal worker....You never know what evil lurks in the postal packages...
posted on November 15, 2003 10:52:22 PM new
There are quite a few people in this area of California who ship live bees through the mail. They never have to worry about pilferage
The light at the end of the tunnel will turn out to be an oncoming train.
posted on November 16, 2003 01:33:07 AM new
I know that USPS has laws on shipping live animals. I was mailing a package one day and I heard clucking coming from behind the postal worker. I guess he saw the expression on my face. He had a box of live chickens behind him. He put them on the counter and I peeked through one of the holes and saw a chicken eye looking back at me. Another time, I bumped into a lady I knew who was mailing a desert tortoise to a adoptive family. (She manages the rescue, rehabilitation and adoption placements for a california organization.
What I found out is that there are rules for what animals can be shipped and what type of packing for each type of animal. All live animals must be shipped and recieved within a 24 hour period. So those chickens I saw were waiting for a pick up (OH what jokes we could make out of that one)
posted on November 16, 2003 01:16:13 PM new
Tom, ROFL!
Hmmm bees in the package. That would slow down sticky fingers! Then again so would a 19inch crocodile. (we don't have 'gators over here). Sounds like the postal workers have it pretty tough over there. Dodging bees, bullets and gators.
Regards,
Adrian
posted on November 16, 2003 02:02:55 PM new
40 or 50 yrs ago baby chicks were sent by RR Express. After the demise of RR E, the USPS took over & ships Express Mail most of the time.
posted on November 16, 2003 02:08:51 PM new
So that's what happened to my alligator. I was wondering why he said he didn't receive it.
Seriously, though, Libra I didn't see that one. I guess I need to watch the local news more often - that's what happens when you get satallite tv for the first time
