Gator Knocks, Homeowner Refuses To Answer

PARRISH, FL — A beefy alligator out on the prowl a few nights ago gave a Parrish homeowner quite a start. It seems the creature wandered right up to the front door and proceeded to knock with its tail.

The strange sounds the gator made right outside gave the homeowner quite a start, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office reported on its Facebook page. Unsure of the source of the sound, the homeowner wisely looked before turning the knob.

Not quite sure what to do after discovering the unwelcome guest, the homeowner called the sheriff’s office to trespass the gator. Deputies, in turn, made sure to contact a licensed alligator trapper through the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

FWC’s trapper, the sheriff’s office said, made fairly short work of catching the beast, which measured in at 7-foot-8. It seems the creature, however, was a bit too beefy for the trapper to handle alone.

“Our deputies assisted the trapper by helping lift the heavy alligator into the pickup truck,” the agency reported on Facebook.

See Also:

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• 11-Foot Gator Eats Burglar
• Florida Gators On The Move As Temperatures Rise

As summer temperatures once again become the norm in the Tampa Bay area, human and alligator encounters are likely to rise. Reptiles, including alligators, are more active in the warmer months, FWC spokesman Gary Morse told Patch in a previous interview.

“That’s just the cold-blooded creatures’ (way),” he said. “Their metabolism increases and they do become more active.”

Since that increased activity level also leads to uncomfortable encounters, such as the one in Parrish, the state has set up its own hotline to accept nuisance alligator calls. That number is 1-866-FWC-GATOR (866-392-4286). In 2013 alone, the state fielded 15,036 nuisance alligator calls, which resulted in the removal of 6,605 creatures.

So, what should folks do if they encounter a gator?

“If you see an alligator, appreciate it from a distance,” Morse recommended.

For those who like swimming in Florida’s freshwater lakes, ponds and rivers, Morse suggested avoiding heavily vegetated areas. He also warned: “No swimming between dusk and dawn when alligators tend to be active.”

For residents who encounter nuisance alligators, such as those that show up on front door steps, Morse said it’s a good idea to call the state’s hotline.