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Daily Mail
3 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Terrifying moment 7-foot alligator twirls into 'death spiral' as Florida cops try to wrestle it from backyard pool
A 7-foot alligator launched into a violent 'death spiral' as deputies and a professional trapper struggled to drag it from the bottom of a family's backyard swimming pool. In astonishing footage released by the Martin County Sheriff's Office the reptilian intruder and be seen thrashing and spinning around with brutal force in a deadly maneuver usually reserved for killing prey. This time, the gator was fighting against being captures at a home in the quiet Pinecrest Lakes community. Deputies Dawn Ferris and Sergeant Crystal Nash were the first on scene after startled residents dialed 911, reporting the unwelcome and very large guest soaking up the sun in their fenced pool. The alligator, lounging in the water as if it owned the place, seemed utterly unfazed by its growing audience. But when professional trapper Matt Hines arrived to remove the stubborn reptile, the calm suddenly turned into chaos. Video shows Hines securing the beast with a snare pole, cautiously maneuvering to guide the gator toward the shallow end. Sensing the loss of control, the alligator unleashed a vicious death roll, twisting its muscular body with terrifying speed, thrashing its powerful tail and churning the water making waves across the pool. The gator spun clockwise, then reversed, twirling back the other way in a frenzied display of raw power. The pole strained under the force of the reptile's spiraling assault as Hines dug in his heels, battling to maintain his grip. At one point, the gator was nearly dragged to the pool's edge, but refused to surrender. Instead of climbing the steps as Hines coaxed it, the gator pivoted violently and spun again in a chilling reminder of why these creatures have ruled swamps and rivers for millennia. 'This was no easy task,' the Martin County Sheriff's Office noted dryly on social media. 'As unbelievable as it looks, this is the second time today that a gator has been found soaking up the sun in a residential pool in our area.' It took all of Hines's experience and sheer determination to finally subdue the beast. Inch by agonizing inch, he dragged the reptile up onto the pool deck as the creature writhed in defiance. From there, the slow, tense trek to the waiting transport vehicle began. Fortunately, no one was injured, and the gator was safely removed from the property, but the encounter left no doubt about the dangers lurking even in suburban backyards. Officials were quick to remind the public that the standoff wasn't just a freak occurrence. It is mating season for alligators in Florida, a period when the typically reclusive reptiles become more aggressive and mobile, sometimes turning up in unexpected and unwanted places. The pole strained under the force of the reptile's spiraling assault as Hines dug in his heels, battling to maintain his grip with the gator pulling in the other direction 'Residents and pet owners, please stay alert,' the sheriff's office warned. 'Alligators are wild animals and can be extremely dangerous if provoked. As you can see by the powerful 'death spiral,' it is not safe to attempt to remove a gator unless you are a trained professional.' Incredibly, authorities believe the gator managed to get into the pool by either climbing over the fence or finding its way under it - a sobering thought for anyone who assumes a backyard barrier is enough to keep wildlife out.
USA Today
4 days ago
- USA Today
Alligator found in Florida backyard pool: Watch the moment it was captured
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
