This Florida man was taking his puppy for a bathroom break late at night when he noticed a nearly eight-foot alligator using his pool.
What is going on?
Fox Weather reported on video taken by Rob Emhoff that showed a gator swimming around the family’s swimming pool.
Thankfully, with a quick call to the state wildlife control office, a professional alligator trapper was dispatched to the scene to safely remove the animal from the property.
Emhoff was shocked, and said, “I would never believe this if someone told me.”
In the video, the trapper traps the gator, tapes its mouth shut, and drags it out of the pool.
Alligators have an incredibly strong bite but struggle to open their mouths with nearly as much force, so carefully wrapping tape around their chins keeps their teeth out of commission.
Why is this important?
Through careful and humane removal, the alligator was removed from the homeowners’ property with no problems other than interrupted sleep.
However, cases like this are becoming more common as habitat loss increases around the world.
The family made the right choice to call someone who knew exactly how to get the alligator out of their pool without getting hurt. In the video, the gator appeared placid until it rolled viciously as it was removed from the pool.
When people try to interfere with wildlife without professional involvement, they or the animal can be harmed. If that happens, the creature may have to be euthanized.
As wild animals continue to lose their habitats, they seek refuge in human-dominated spaces. This can lead to not-so-pleasant encounters between people and animals that can end badly for both parties.
Another Floridian was not so lucky with her own alligator encounter, pulling her puppy out of harm’s way and taking a few bites to the arm in the process. The gator, which was occupying a creek near the woman’s house, was shot down.
What is being done about human-wildlife encounters?
As animals are forced to live in places where humans have encroached on once virgin land, human-wildlife interactions become more of an issue.
It is crucial to understand that approaching or handling wild animals, especially when those animals are in unfamiliar territories, puts everyone involved at risk.
Therefore, knowing who to call is a key component in keeping humans and animals safe. It is always best to contact the authorities, as they know the proper procedures to follow to keep everyone protected.
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