Florida

See what happened when alligators, snakes and lizards invaded Florida neighborhoods

Stories by Miami Herald journalists, with AI summarization

Reptile encounters can be unpredictable.

Incidents like a bare-footed man wrestling one on a Florida highway reveal how these animals can unexpectedly disrupt daily life.

Many encounters involve alligators intruding into residential areas or public spaces, such as one invading a swimming pool or another halting a cyclist in his tracks.

These stories underscore the need for ongoing awareness and respect for wildlife in environments increasingly encroached upon by human activities.

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories below were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.

Video recorded in the Bonita National Golf & Country Club in Bonita Springs shows a very large alligator took to the road in search of a lake.

NO. 1: WATCH LUMBERING ALLIGATOR BRING BICYCLIST TO TENSE STANDSTILL IN FLORIDA NEIGHBORHOOD

“I don’t care what anyone says. Those are dinosaurs.” | Published April 16, 2024 | Read Full Story by Mark Price

Mike Dragich is a licensed alligator trapper, and he was summoned by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission after an alligator showed up at a strip mall near Jacksonville, Florida.

NO. 2: BAREFOOT MAN RECORDED JUMPING ON ALLIGATOR IN FLORIDA HIGHWAY. ‘HOLD MY SWEET TEA’

“That man is holding that alligator like a guitar.” | Published April 23, 2024 | Read Full Story by Mark Price

Alligator courtship season reached a level of absurdity when one of the large reptiles was found hiding under a military aircraft at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida.

NO. 3: ALLIGATOR FOUND HIDING IN LANDING GEAR OF PLANE AT FLORIDA AIR FORCE BASE, PHOTOS SHOW

A tug-of-war played out as officers moved the alligator. | Published April 23, 2024 | Read Full Story by Mark Price

New Smyrna Beach Officer Z. Rooney (left) and Sergeant B. Olsen arrived at the home at 2:30 a.m. to find a 10-foot alligator in the swimming pool.

NO. 4: DOG ‘BARKING FEROCIOUSLY’ AT 2 A.M. LEADS FAMILY TO ALLIGATOR IN POOL, FLORIDA COPS SAY

The dog was called a “hero.” | Published May 22, 2024 | Read Full Story by Mark Price

Alligators are native to coastal North Carolina, and are a protected game species. Only people with permits can harvest them.

NO. 5: ALLIGATOR ATTACKS WOMAN WALKING HER DOG, FLORIDA OFFICIALS SAY. TRAPPER CATCHES IT

Neighbors heard screams, news outlets report. | Published September 6, 2024 | Read Full Story by Mark Price

One Lee County deputy had the risky job of holding the alligator’s snout as it was put into a truck, video shows.

NO. 6: ALLIGATOR SHOWS UP AT FLORIDA FAMILY’S DOOR AND WON’T LEAVE. ‘HE’S JUST LOOKING AT ME’

Video shows one deputy got stuck holding the snout. | Published September 12, 2024 | Read Full Story by Mark Price

The female python was found with the deer in its jaws as a team from the Conservancy of Southwest Florida walked private land between Naples and Big Cypress Preserve, officials said.

NO. 7: PYTHON FOUND EATING DEER SHOWS THEY’RE GOING AFTER BIGGER PREY IN FLORIDA, STUDY SAYS

“It felt like we caught a serial killer in the act.” | Published October 24, 2024 | Read Full Story by Mark Price

This 4-foot invasive iguana was captured after it jumped into a boat load of Florida hunters, video shows.

NO. 8: WATCH AS 4-FOOT INVASIVE LIZARD JUMPS FROM TREE INTO BOAT LOADED WITH FLORIDA HUNTERS

“That’s what we call a dang canal dragon, y’all.” | Published November 12, 2024 | Read Full Story by Mark Price

This report was produced with the help of AI tools, which summarized previous stories reported and written by McClatchy journalists. It was edited by journalists in our News division.