Alligator found in Florida backyard pool: Watch the moment it was captured

USA Today

2 days ago

Alligator found in Florida backyard pool: Watch the moment it was captured
Some residents in Jensen Beach, Florida, got an unexpected backyard visitor over the weekend when they found a 7-foot alligator going for a swim in their pool.
When officers responded to a home in the Pinecrest Lakes neighborhood on May 31, they found the gator "completely unfazed by its unexpected audience," the Martin County Sheriff's Office said in a social media post.
After enlisting the help of professional trapper Matt Hines, the alligator was trapped and removed from the pool, the MCSO said.
The reptile made it into the pool despite the home's pool being fully fenced in, the post said. Officers said they believe the alligator either climbed over or found its way under the fencing.
While the encounter is abnormal, it happens more often than expected, officers said. In fact, it was the second call that day for an alligator found swimming in a residential pool, the department said.
Watch: Gator found in pool tries to evade capture with 'death spiral'
Watch as this scaly intruder does a death roll in neighborhood pool
Local authorities had to call a professional trapper to help remove a 7 foot uninvited guest from a Florida resident's pool.
In a video posted to Facebook, the alligator is seen trying to evade capture by using what's known as the "death roll" or "death spiral," MCSO said.
The animals use a full-body twisting motion to kill prey, according to the University of Tennessee. The species can't chew, so it uses a powerful bite coupled with the roll technique to attack prey.
In this case, the gator used the death roll as a defense mechanism, officials said.
"As you can see by the powerful 'death spiral,' an alligator's natural defense tactic, it is not safe to attempt to remove a gator unless you are a trained professional," MCSO's post said.
Police warn about alligator mating season
The MCSO also said the incident serves as a reminder that it's mating season for alligators.
"During this time, they become much more active and may travel into areas they don't typically frequent — including fully fenced yards like this one," the MCSO said.
The department cautioned residents and pet owners to stay alert for alligators, which can be dangerous if provoked.
If you spot an alligator, keep your distance and call for help, police said.
Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. She can be reached at [e-mail].