A Naples family got a jarring reminder that, in Florida, a backyard pool can become wildlife territory without warning when they found an alligator measuring just under eight feet resting beside the basketball hoop at the deep end of their pool, according to WINK News.
Here's what to know
The situation began when Rob Emhoff's wife was up with their young child around 1 a.m. and heard a splash in the pool, after which the family discovered the source of the sound was a large alligator.
According to the family, the gator likely slipped through a broken section of a fence, moved across the side yard, and then got into the pool.
Emhoff described the eerie moment when the family realized what they were looking at: "Next, you know, we saw, like, the huge shadow become, you know, this crazy striped alligator."
They called Collier County's non-emergency number, and authorities came about 10 minutes later.
Authorities were able to safely restrain the gator by taping its mouth shut and later loaded it into a trailer that already had two other gators inside.
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More background
Encounters like this can happen when human development overlaps with wildlife habitat.
Neighborhood fences, yards, pools, canals, and retention ponds can create unexpected pathways or resting spots for animals simply moving through an area.
That does not mean the alligator was necessarily looking to attack people, though. In many cases, wild animals end up in human spaces because those spaces have replaced or fragmented their natural habitats, an issue explored in BBC's reporting on why wild animals attack humans.
Even when an encounter never turns into an attack, that same overlap can increase risks for both people and animals.
A household with a young child was startled awake in the middle of the night and forced to navigate a potentially dangerous situation at home.
What can be done?
The family kept its distance and called authorities rather than trying to force the animal out themselves.
That kind of response can reduce the chance of injury for everyone involved.
Repairing damaged fences and gates, keeping yards clear of easy hiding spots, and staying alert around pools or water features can help lower the odds of an unexpected encounter.
Supervise pets and children closely outdoors, especially at night, and avoid approaching or feeding wildlife.
A large alligator can move quickly on land and may become defensive when cornered.
For the family, the situation became even more tense once responders began removing the animal.
As Emhoff recalled, "It started hissing, and then he started whipping its tail, and yeah, he wasn't happy. Definitely wasn't happy."
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