A Coral Springs couple were awakened by loud thumping outside their home in the wee hours of Thursday morning.
Turns out, it wasn't a door-to-door salesperson, or the member of a religious organization handing out pamphlets.
It was a 9- foot alligator.
HELLO!
See also: Florida Man Shoots Home Intruder That Also Happened to Be an Alligator
Luann and Jorge Alonso, the banging outside their front porch started at around 5:00 a.m.
Luann asked Jorge to check out what all the racket was, and to maybe chase away the person disturbing their early morning slumber.
"I mentioned to her it was probably a raccoon," Jorge told WSVN.
Luann looked out the window, and what she saw was no raccoon.
"We opened the blinds and right against our living room windows there was an alligator laying there," Luann said.
Jorge says he thinks the gator got caught in the home's hurricane shutters, and that it was slashing its tail against the accordion walls, trying to break free.
A wildlife trapper was called in to get the unwelcome 9-foot guest from the Alonso home.
The trapper, Kevin Garvey, says he had some trouble capturing the gator, but was eventually able to snag it and haul it away.
According to WSVN, the alligator will be taken to an Everglades outpost or to a farm in Okeechobee.
Garvey thinks the gator arrived to the Alonso's front door by way of a canal behind the house. The canal flows directly from the Everglades, which means gator sightings in the neighborhood are quite common. Although none have gotten this close to someone's home until now.
Gators walking out of canals right up to homes is a rare thing. But, if you live near a canal, best to take extra precaution with children and small pets.
Also, be sure you know exactly who is at your front door.
/knock-knock
Person: [speaking through closed door] Yes? Voice: (mumbling) Mrs. Greggeuurrrr? Person: Who? Voice: (mumbling) Mr. Johannesburrrr? Person: Who is it? Voice: [pause] Flowers. Person: Flowers for whom? Voice: [long pause] Plumber, ma'am. Person: I don't need a plumber. You're that alligator from the canal, aren't you? Voice: .... Candygram. Person: Candygram? You get out of here before I call the police! You're the alligator from the canal, and you know it! Voice: Wait. I-I'm only a dolphin, sir, ma'am. Person: A dolphin? Well... Okay!
/opens door //gets eaten
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