A welcome mat became a resting spot for an 8-foot alligator at a North Carolina home. The homeowner discovered the animal after a loud thud drew her to the front door around 1 a.m.
Here's what to know
A barking dog prompted real estate agent Rasa Love to investigate the noise at her home on Spring Glen Court in Leland's Waterford community, according to WWAY.
Love first saw the reptile after she switched on the light and opened her front door.
"We heard this loud thud and wasn't sure exactly where it came from. My dog started barking, so I went to the front door. And I [turned] on the light switch and I opened the door, and I looked down, and there was a very large alligator with his head resting on the doormat. And then I quickly slammed the door," she said.
What had drawn the animal to the house was unclear, although the thud made it seem as if it had knocked into the door. Leland police were called to the home, and Love photographed the alligator on her doorstep.
More background
Homes near Waterford's human-built waterways put residents close to places where they encounter wildlife. Love has seen alligators in backyards bordering canals and believes the reptiles inhabit many of the community's retention ponds.
TCD Picks » Quince Spotlight
💡These best-sellers from Quince deliver affordable, sustainable luxury for all
"I don't think people realize just how much alligators move. Most of the time, that movement is at night. When we're not out," North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission representative John Henry Harrelson told WWAY.
What's being done?
The location of the waterway where the alligator was relocated was not disclosed. WWAY reported that Leland police and the state's Wildlife Resources Commission took it there.
People shining flashlights at the alligator may have encouraged it to leave the porch, Love suggested. Before its removal, the animal moved through the front bushes and into the yard beside the house.
Residential areas can lie along alligators' nighttime routes over land. Love wanted her account of the encounter to build awareness, not alarm.
Love hoped to avoid fear of Waterford's wildlife, even after the startling visit.
"I mean, that's one of the beautiful things about living here is that we do get to see some pretty amazing wildlife. And I don't want to vilify this at all," she told WWAY.
Where can I learn more?
These stories cover residential alligator encounters, a crocodile entering a home in India, and an unusual alligator catch in Georgia.
• A Florida man found an 8-foot alligator waiting in his carport.
• Florida deputies underestimated an 8-foot backyard alligator, leaving its removal to a trapper.
• A South Carolina family sought an alligator's removal after it killed their dog.
• In India, a mother escaped a crocodile approaching her bed with her son.
• A Georgia hunter caught an 8-foot-6 alligator at Clarks Hill Lake, surprising longtime locals.
Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.
