Bianca Fourie of Parrish, Florida was settling in for the night when she received an odd alert from her camera: an alligator was hitting her fence.
An alligator seemed to have made its way to her backyard, according to the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office. Fourie estimated that the animal was about 4 to 5 feet long.
But after cops came to retrieve the alligator, the homeowner learned that the alligator was a whopping 8 feet long — double the length she predicted.
In footage released by authorities, the alligator is seen lying down near the fence while officers discuss how to safely remove it. They would eventually call a trapper to come retrieve it.
“After attempting to relocate the ‘4-5 foot’ gator to a pond across the street, they decided a trapper might be better suited to handle the annoyed reptile,” a Facebook post from the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office reads. “After securing the alligator, it was measured at 8 feet, 4 inches and was relocated.”
Statewide Alligators
In many states, spotting an alligator in public, much less one’s backyard, would be a shock.
But in Florida, running into alligators at the lake or even at ponds behind local supermarkets is to be expected.
A-Z Animals reports that Florida has the second-highest alligator presence nationwide. In total, there are about 1.3 million alligators across the state.
Additionally, Gainesville, the city with the highest gator population across America, is in Florida.
Why Alligators Love Florida
Florida likely sees lots of alligators due to its extensive swamplands and sunny skies year-round.
In the summer, even more seem to reveal themselves as the reptiles love the heat.
Of course, most backyards don’t have swamps or ponds for alligators to enjoy, but that hasn’t stopped the creatures from giving many unsuspecting families quite a shock.
“Any standing body of water in Florida could house a gator, making swamps, rivers, lakes, and drainage pools all potentially dangerous,” an A-Z Animals report warns.
Backyard Alligators
Only a month ago, a Nokomis resident called police after seeing an alligator taking a swim in their pool.
The large animal was a whopping 9 feet, 4 inches long. Due to its size, the Venice Police Department had to call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program to send a trapper.
In another recent case, also in Manatee County, an 8-foot-3-inch-long gator was seen lounging under the golf cart in one couple’s driveway.
The couple, who had just moved to the state from Pennsylvania, quickly learned what to expect as Floridians.