Florida Wildlife officials have identified a 10-foot-long alligator that left the confines of freshwater and ended up swimming parallel to the shore in Delray Beach, Florida on Wednesday (October 12) morning.

Officials say that the gator likely ended up getting caught in a canal and swift-moving waters, ending up in saltwater that would have been fatal for the freshwater reptile. The gator has been returned to friendly water, according to reports.

Sunrise strollers were in for quite the surprise this morning in Delray Beach, Florida, as a 10-foot alligator swam parallel to the shore. Alligators are freshwater animals. A Florida Wildlife Commission officer waiting to capture the gator said it was probably in a canal, got caught in swift moving water after recent heavy rains, and ended up in the ocean. He added that the alligator won't last long in a saltwater environment. Spectators said at one point the giant reptile landed on the beach. Update: Florida Wildlife Officials captured the gator later in the morning.