Florida woman's doorbell camera captures moment alligator approaches her front porch

May 18, 2023

A Florida woman discovered a surprise when she reviewed footage from her doorbell camera after it captured an uninvited visitor.

Lucia (last name omitted), of Wesley Chapel, said she did not regularly look back at the video recorded on her doorbell camera, but one June morning was the exception.

"I initially got the Ring doorbell camera for dog poop bandits in my yard," said Lucia in a statement shared with Fox News Digital.

ALLIGATOR FOUND IN LOUISIANA HOME REPORTEDLY SNEAKED IN THROUGH DOG DOOR: 'I JUMPED BACK'

"I also receive a lot of motion alerts from cars and people walking by on the corner lot," she said.

"The reason why I did check it was because my dog barked while I was sleeping at 4:30 and when I woke up later, I looked to see what got her riled up," Lucia told a Ring representative.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Lucia was reportedly left in shock when she saw that an alligator had been approaching her front door. (See the video at the top of this article.)

HUGE ALLIGATOR IN PENNSYLVANIA, MEASURING 8 FEET, REMOVED FROM RESIDENTS' BASEMENT: 'COULD HEAR HIM HISSING'

This was the first time she had seen the alligator on her property, according to Ring.

After the gator's appearance, Lucia started consistently reviewing the footage, looking out for the large reptile.

"I’ve been diligently checking it in those morning hours and up to about a week prior," Lucia added.

She reported there have been "no further sightings other than armadillos and possums."

AMERICA'S STRANGEST ALLIGATOR ENCOUNTERS: SEE THESE 13 STARTLING STORIES

Her neighborhood has several ponds close by, including one behind her home and across the street, Lucia told Ring.

"The growing number of people living and recreating near water has led to a steady rise in the number of alligator-related complaints," the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission stated online.

The organization has tips for people to follow: Never feed an alligator, keep pets away from the water’s edge, swim during the day and only in designated areas and keep your distance if you see an alligator, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission "Living with Alligators" brochure.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER

Alligators are intimidating to those who may unexpectedly encounter them, but they play a large role in Florida's ecosystem.

"Alligators are an important part of Florida’s landscape and play a valuable role in the ecology of our state’s wetlands," the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission added.

"Alligators are predators and help keep other aquatic animal populations in balance," the organization also noted.