Photos: Giant Gator Makes a House Call

Folks in Palmetto’s Terra Ciea Golf & Country Club community had an unwanted visitor Thursday.

It seems a rather sizeable alligator decided to hop out of its pond and take a stroll through the residential neighborhood after the sun poked out from the clouds following showers in the area.

“A resident in the Terra Ceia Golf and Country Club had an unexpected visitor after today’s storms,” the Palmetto Police Department explained on its Facebook page. The agency posted several photos of the critter, which walked right up to the home’s garage.

Officers, it seems, kept an eye on the gator as it made its way out of the residential area and back to its pond.

“Some nearby residents came out and said that this guy has lived in the pond on the golf course for years and has never posed a threat,” the agency posted. “He was not aggressive but couldn’t have cared less about us standing in his way. Even though the trapper enroute wanted us to keep him from going into the pond, we let him go on his way. He probably lived here long before the golf course and housing community were built. An old native Floridian.”

Residents also posted on Facebook noting that the critter has been named “Stumpy” in the community.

See Also:

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Gator sightings such as Thursday’s are fairly common this time of year as Florida’s cold-blooded residents take advantage of the warmth to stretch their legs.

“All reptiles are more active in the warmer months,” Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission spokesman Gary Morse said. “That’s just the cold-blooded creatures’ (way). Their metabolism increases and they do become active.”

That increase in activity can lead to an increase in encounters with humans. The calls to wildlife officials are so many, in fact, 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 and how can they avoid running into one in the first place?

“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.

He also recommends people who live in or visit Florida brush up on their alligator knowledge.

“It’s imperative that people do their homework, go to our website and learn how to handle (sightings),” he said.

To help out, the state offers a downloadable brochure with the ABCs of cohabitating with these reptiles. “ A Guide to Living with Alligators” can be accessed from the state’s website.

Photos from Facebook

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