Authorities in Florida received a call "concerning an animal problem" Sunday night. They arrived at a residence in a residential neighborhood and spotted an alligator scratching at the front door, according to Flagler County Sheriff's Office.
An American Alligator walks out of the alligator lagoon at Everglades Alligator Farm in Homestead, Florida, on June 24, 2016.
Alligators Seen Trying to Enter Florida Home As Mating Season Starts
Officers arrived at the residence to find the enormous predator prowling close behind the front door, presumably attempting to gain entry.
Before moving further across the porch, the huge reptile appears to stare up at the door.
According to the sheriff's office, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers arrived shortly to remove the intruder. They transferred the gator to a more suitable habitat "away from the residential area," UPI reported.
One user, Cathy Green, shared her encounter with a gator about the same size in her neighborhood in the comments section of the Flagler County Sheriff's Office Facebook video.
According to her, she was still new to the area at the time. She didn't call the police. Instead, she called animal control. However, they didn't think it was a problem. So, Green and her family just stayed inside their house all night. Fortunately, the alligator was gone the following morning.
Other observers expressed concern that habitat destruction is displacing more alligators in the state. The alligator on the doorstep appeared to be babies, according to another Facebook user.
The Sheriff's Department has not confirmed the alligator's size or age.
Last Easter Sunday, a massive alligator was sighted strolling through a Florida neighborhood.
The gator, which was reported to be 10 feet long, was captured on camera by the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office.
"We're not sure if the Easter bunny made its way to Harrington Lake in Venice this morning after coming across this bad boy," the sheriff's office said.
The gator can be seen trudging over a lawn in a residential neighborhood before resting on a driveway.
According to authorities, the gator took his time returning to the lake where he came from, who added that they "can't blame him just thinking about how heavy that tail must be."
About Alligators
Around 1.3 million alligators live in Florida, Newsweek reported. The population lives in all seven counties of the state, mostly around wetlands and marshes. Because much of their habitat is adjacent to urban areas, the huge reptiles can frequently wander into neighborhoods and pose a nuisance for residents.
The alligator mating season is presently underway in Florida. In April, the reptiles begin courting and after a month, the mating season officially begins. They are much more active during this time of the year because they are looking for a breeding partner. So, the alligator sightings in neighborhoods and other inhabited places tend to rise.
Alligators become more active during the breeding season, and males, in particular, might become more aggressive. That is because, while competing for a mate, they become more concerned with guarding their area.
Alligators in Florida can reach lengths of up to 13 feet. Alligators require between 10 to 20 years to reach their peak size.
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