Passersby of the Market Basket on Hwy 62 in Mauriceville got quite a show Wednesday afternoon. Gary Saurage of Gator Country began working to remove an alligator that took up residence under a storm drain.

"This will be the hardest one yet," said Saurage. "But we are definitely going to get him."

Gary Saurage owns Gator Country in Beaumont. He was called because he contracts as a gator catcher for the state. He says he has received more calls to remove gators this year than in the past, partially because of Hurricane Ike. He says the storm pushed salt and oil onshore, moving the gators a little bit northward. He says since April he has been called to remove 67 alligators from drains, ditches and other places near humans.

Wednesday’s extraction was one of the more challenging once for the Saurage, taking more than four hours to do the job. He called on the Mauriceville Volunteer Fire Department as well as the Orange County Road and Bridge. He says it was the hardest one he’s had to deal with so far because of where the gator was. The area could be host to snakes and other critters in addition to the alligator making removal extra difficult.

Saurage said they'll name the alligator Great and it will be taken to Gator Country in Beaumont.

"Save alligators lives," exclaimed Saurage. "That is what we do!"