This Florida man was taking his puppy out to use the bathroom late at night when he noticed a nearly eight-foot-long alligator playing in his swimming pool.
What happened?
Fox Weather reported on a video captured by Rob Emhoff showing an alligator swimming around a family pool.
Thankfully, a quick call to the state’s Office of Wildlife Control sent a professional alligator trapper to the scene and the alligator was safely removed from the scene.
Emhoff was shocked, saying: “If someone had told me, I would never have believed it.”
In the video, the trapper caught the crocodile in a snare, taped its mouth shut, and dragged it out of the pond.
Alligators have a very powerful bite, but have difficulty opening their mouths with nearly the same force, so wrapping tape thoroughly around their noses can prevent their teeth from failing.
Why is this important?
Through careful, humane removal, the alligator was removed from the homeowner’s property without any issues other than sleep disruption.
However, as habitat loss increases around the world, situations like this are becoming increasingly common.
The family made the right choice by calling in someone who knew how to get the alligator out of the pond without harming it. In the video, the crocodile appears calm until it violently rolls over when it is removed from the pool.
When people try to disturb wildlife without professional involvement, they or the animal may be harmed. If this occurs, the creature may have to be euthanized.
As wildlife continues to lose habitat, they seek refuge in human-dominated spaces. This can lead to a less pleasant encounter between humans and animals that ends badly for both parties.
Another Floridian wasn’t so lucky when she encountered an alligator. She pulled her puppy out of harm’s way, but received several bites on its arm in the process. The crocodile took over a creek near the woman’s home and was later put out.
What measures are being taken to address human-wildlife encounters?
Human-wildlife interactions become even more of a problem as animals are forced to live in places where humans have encroached on once pristine lands.
It is important to understand that approaching or handling wild animals, especially when the animals are in unfamiliar areas, puts everyone involved at risk.
Therefore, knowing who to call is a critical component in keeping humans and animals safe. It is best to contact the authorities as they know the proper procedures to follow to protect everyone.
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