Baby Alligator Found In Brandon Pool, FWC Offers Safety Tips

BRANDON FL — A Brandon resident saw a baby alligator taking a dip in his swimming pool last week.

Carlos Rivera hoped that it would find its way out, reported ABC Action News. Rivera watched the alligator from inside his kitchen as he ate dinner with his family, and saw that it eventually found its way out of the pool. The alligator continued to hang out in the backyard by taking a stroll.

Rivera's daughter, Veronica Rivera, watched the alligator's movements with her boyfriend, and they thought to use a garbage bin to capture it and return it to the wild.

"We saw him walking around for a while, and we were wondering who we should call, like my dad said, and then we decided it's probably best because it was a baby alligator, so we thought we could handle it," Veronica Rivera told ABC.

After they got the alligator into the bin, they released it at a nearby pond.

Since alligators are found in all Florida counties, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission offers these safety tips for Florida residents and visitors who may cross paths with the reptile:

• If you encounter an alligator that is believed to pose a threat to people, pets or property, call the FWC’s Nuisance Alligator Hotline, toll-free at 1-866-FWC-GATOR (392-4286). The FWC’s Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program (SNAP) uses contracted nuisance alligator trappers throughout the state to remove alligators 4 feet in length or greater that are believed to pose a threat.
• Be aware of the possible presence of alligators when in or near fresh or brackish water. Negative alligator encounters may occur when people do not pay close attention to their surroundings when working or recreating near water.
• Closely supervise children when they are playing in or around water.
• Never swim outside of posted swimming areas.
• Swim only during daylight hours. Alligators are most active between dusk and dawn.
• Do not allow pets to swim, exercise or drink in or near waters that may contain alligators or in designated swimming areas with humans. Dogs are more susceptible to being bitten than humans because dogs resemble the natural prey of alligators. The sound of dogs barking and playing may draw an alligator to the area.
• Never feed or entice alligators – it is dangerous and illegal. When fed, alligators overcome their natural wariness and associate people with food.
• Inform others that feeding alligators is illegal and creates problems for others who want to recreate in or near the water.
• Dispose of fish scraps in garbage cans at boat ramps and fish camps — do not throw them in the water. Although you are not intentionally feeding alligators when you do this, the end result can be the same.
• Observe and photograph alligators only from a safe distance. Remember, they are an important part of Florida's natural history as well as an integral component of fresh water ecosystems.
• Leave alligators alone. State law prohibits killing, harassing or possessing alligators except under permit.
• Never remove an alligator from its natural habitat or accept one as a pet. It is illegal and dangerous to do so. Handling even small alligators can result in injury.
• If an alligator bites you, the best thing to do is fight back, providing as much noise and resistance as possible. Hitting or kicking the alligator or poking it in its eyes may cause it to release its grip. When alligators seize prey they cannot easily overpower, they will
  often let go and retreat.
• Seek immediate medical attention if bitten by an alligator. Alligator bites often result in
  serious infection.