PLANT CITY, Fla. — A couple in Plant City woke up to find an alligator at their sliding glass door.
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Pamela Pomfret said she woke up around 2:30 a.m. on Tuesday. She said she is a light sleeper. She woke up her husband, Mark, after discovering an alligator on their lani.
"It was like somebody knocking on the door, pretty loud. I'm guessing it was his tail swinging backwards and forward, knocking against the door," said Mark Pomfret.
A home security camera caught video of the alligator moving around on the lani. At first, only the gator's eyes are visible.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office says deputies responded to the home and helped an FWC trapper get the gator and safely relocate it.
KNOCK, KNOCK🐊 on June 1, a Plant City family woke up to a knock on their sliding glass doors from a GATOR. District II deputies responded & helped @MyFWC safely trap & relocate the gator. No one was injured.
— HCSO (@HCSOSheriff) June 3, 2021
FWC's toll-free Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 866-392-4296 pic.twitter.com/JrbBo0dDAo
The sheriff's office says the home is near a small retention pond.
"Living in Florida, you see gators around. We posted something online just for some friends and it has been really surprising how much interest has been in it," said Mark.
"Hopefully, we don't have another one, but at least, we know who to call because we do have that trapper's name and number now," said Pamela Pomfret.
We're in the midst of alligator season right now, so that means they're more active and visible.
For pet owners, FWC has a special warning — keep animals on a leash and away from water because they can resemble an alligator's natural prey.
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Alligators are most active between dusk and dawn, so plan accordingly to reduce the chances of running into them.
Although many Floridians have learned to coexist with alligators, the potential for conflict always exists. Serious injuries caused by alligators are rare in Florida.
If you're ever concerned about an alligator, call FWC’s toll-free Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 866-392-4286. The FWC will dispatch one of its contracted nuisance alligator trappers to resolve the situation.
For more information, visit the FWC's website.
