Woman Horrified by Who's in Her Pool, Cops Arrive: 'Scared Half to Death'
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
A viral TikTok video has captured the dramatic moment police and wildlife officials uncovered the shocking reason behind a disturbance in a backyard swimming pool.
The clip, posted by Sarah (@sarahashley22222) on behalf of her aunt, begins with an officer walking into the enclosed pool area and immediately halting. The caption says that her aunt was having a "worse day than all of us." The tension builds until the surprise is revealed: an alligator had made itself at home in the outdoor pool.
Sarah told Newsweek that her aunt was "scared half to death."
Two screenshots showing the alligator in the swimming pool, left: and the reptile being dragged out, right.
Two screenshots showing the alligator in the swimming pool, left: and the reptile being dragged out, right.
TikTok/@sarahashley22222
The footage quickly went viral racking up more than 2.8 million views and over 235,000 likes.
It shows the reptile thrashing and rolling in the water as a trapper attempts to secure it with a catch pole. Despite the gator's powerful twists and turns, the handler manages to drag the animal out of the pool with sheer strength before leading it away from the property.
Viewers flooded the comments with praise for the handler's composure and power.
"Nobody is commenting on the strength of that guy! He just pulled a huge gator just by brute force!!" one person wrote.
Another added: "That person is a professional. All that twisting and turning, I would've fallen straight into the pool."
In the comment section, many users speculated the encounter took place in Florida—the state known for its 1.3 million alligators.
A third user posted: "At this point, I'm convinced that Florida is just America's version of Australia."
The National Wildlife Federation describes American alligators as large crocodilians found only in the United States. They can grow over 12 feet in length and weigh as much as 1,000 pounds. With their dark, armored skin and bony scutes, or external plates, American alligators thrive in slow-moving freshwater rivers, swamps, marshes, and lakes across the Southeast, including Florida's Everglades.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) defines a nuisance alligator as one measuring at least 4 feet in length and posing a threat to people, pets, or property.
Even smaller alligators, however, must sometimes be removed if they end up in places like swimming pools or garages.
"You should never handle an alligator, even a small one, because alligator bites can result in serious infection, and it's illegal," says the website.
Concerned residents are encouraged to call the Nuisance Alligator Hotline, where licensed trappers are dispatched to safely handle the situation.
While no one was harmed during the alligator's unexpected visit, viewers couldn't help but think of a far-scarier outcome.
"Imagine jumping in for a night swim without seeing that," one commenter wrote, with others noting that dark-colored pool bottoms could serve as perfect camouflage for lurking reptiles.
Another user cautioned against the trend of black-tiled pools, warning: "People building black swimming pools in their homes in the name of being modern—these are some of the things that can be in your pool: snakes, alligators, and many other dangerous creatures. You're choosing style over safety and putting your family at risk."
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