'There's an alligator at my front door!' Video shows 8-foot gator in Venice woman's kitchen
It's alligator mating season and Floridians expect to see giant frisky reptiles wandering through golf courses, around retirement communities and in pools looking for mates and habitats.
They're not usually expecting to see one in the kitchen, though.
Mary Hollenback of Venice, Florida told USA TODAY that she thought it was a neighbor accidentally coming in her house when the screen door rattled on March 28.
"So I come around the corner expecting to tell somebody they were in the wrong place," she said in an interview. "And, lo and behold, there's an alligator at my front door!"
The alligator, which the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) confirmed was 7 feet, 11 inches long, ended up stuck in her kitchen "between the island and the refrigerator," Hollenback said.
"He was very clearly upset."
Four FWC officials were able to get the gator into a truck and took it to an alligator farm.
'There's an alligator at my front door!' See the 8-foot gator that crawled in this Florida kitchen
When is alligator mating season in Florida?
Alligator mating season "officially" begins in May or June, but male alligators begin courting in early April.
During that time they may range up to several miles seeking mates and new habitats.
Are alligators more aggressive during mating season?
Yes, toward other alligators. Alligators will still tend to avoid humans, the FWC said. But before and during mating season they will be much more active than usual and that means more human encounters and more chances of dangerous outcomes.
Males tend to get more aggressive in April as they try to dominate weaker gators and make themselves look more attractive before mating season begins. The males that lose go looking for new places to live. Sometimes that means a gator popping up in residential pools, golf courses or yards.
Females aren't necessarily more aggressive leading up to mating season but will become highly aggressive if you approach the nest or eggs.
According to wildlife officials, the reptiles are most active between dusk and dawn.
How often do alligator attacks occur in Florida?
While gator attacks aren't uncommon in Florida, deaths from them are. The FWC says the chances of a Florida resident being seriously injured in an unprovoked alligator attack are one in 3.1 million.
Over the past 10 years, the FWC confirmed that Florida has averaged eight unprovoked alligator bites per year that are serious enough to require professional medical treatment.
5 ways to avoid getting attacked or killed by a Florida alligator
How can you avoid getting attacked by an alligator? Mostly, avoid them in the first place.
Be careful where and when you swim (or walk): Alligators can be found in practically all fresh and brackish water and sometimes in salt water. If you see a body of water in Florida, it might be safer to assume there's a gator in it. Swim only during daylight hours. Alligators are most active between dusk and dawn.
Closely supervise children and pets in and around water: According to the FWC, dogs are more susceptible to being bitten than humans because dogs resemble the natural prey of alligators. Keep an eye on children and don't let pets go in or around water that may contain alligators.
Do not feed an alligator or try to take selfies: It's illegal to feed alligators in Florida, and a really bad idea since they might overcome their natural fear of humans and associate them with food. Take your photos from at least 30 feet away and don't try to touch it. State law also prohibits killing, harassing or possessing alligators except under permit.
If you see an alligator, run away: Gators can move quickly for short distances but they're generally timid and looking for easy prey. Make yourself look big, back up, and run in a straight line (not zig-zag) to get more distance faster. Note: if you see an alligator nest or eggs, get away as fast as you can.
If you are attacked or bitten, fight back: "When alligators seize prey they cannot easily overpower, they will often let go and retreat," the FWC says. Hitting, kicking, poking eyes all can help, and jamming objects into the back of its mouth can cause it to relax and reposition, giving you time to escape.
If you are bitten, get immediate medical attention. Alligator bites often result in serious infections that can be fatal.
Alligator attacks on dogs: How to keep your pets safe from crocs, alligators
What do I do if I see an alligator?
If you encounter an alligator you think will be a threat to people, pets or property, call the FWC’s Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 1‐866‐FWC‐GATOR (392‐4286) or visit myfwc.com.
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.
Gator in your backyard? Here's what to do if an alligator is in your yard, pool or neighborhood. No, you can't shoot it
How many alligators are there in Florida?
Florida has about 1.3 million alligators, according to data from the FWC, a number that has remained stable for several years.
Alligators have been in Florida for centuries and can be found in all 67 counties. They are an important part of the ecosystem and usually avoid humans, but the more our population and housing expands and pushes them out of their natural habitats, the more we can expect to see more frequent alligator-human conflict.
Can I hunt or kill alligators in Florida?
State law prohibits killing, harassing or possessing alligators or crocodiles or their eggs. It's a third-degree felony to kill or injure a gator.
In Florida, alligators can only be killed outside hunting season if deemed a nuisance by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and then only by a contracted nuisance alligator trapper. Call 866-FWC-GATOR (866-392-4286) if the alligator is at least 4 feet in length and you believe an alligator poses a threat to people, pets or property.
There is an alligator hunting season in every Florida county besides Miami-Dade and Monroe. Licenses are required and you are limited to two kills. The season is in staggered weeks from Aug. 15 through Nov. 8, with a 7-week open season from Sept. 12 through Nov. 8.
This year the FWC approved a new, additional hunt, the Alligator Super Hunt, which allows applicants to apply for a random drawing to hunt in most of the allowed areas from Aug. 15 through Dec. 31.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Watch: Massive alligator wanders in Florida kitchen, gets stuck
