Alligators invade Florida homes post-hurricane Milton
In the United States, damage assessments are ongoing after Hurricane Milton swept through western Florida. Many people are only now returning to their homes, but it turns out it’s still not safe. A new threat has emerged in the form of alligators, which have been spotted even on private properties.
16 October 2024 13:16
Last week, the United States was in the highest state of alert due to Hurricane Milton, which, as it approached the southern states, reached the highest level on the five-point scale. In light of the impending threat, the authorities announced evacuations of residents from areas including western Florida.
Although the hurricane wasn’t as strong as predicted, it managed to completely destroy over a hundred homes and seriously damage hundreds more. The extent of the damage is still unclear because many people are just returning to their homes. However, as was the case for Stuart resident Emile De Cuba, they may be in for quite a surprise.
I returned home yesterday around 3:30 PM, and when I walked past the sliding doors, I shouted: Wow! - an American recounted to WPTV.
Alligators took to the streets after Hurricane Milton
His surprise wasn’t about the extent of the damage, as the hurricane only lightly damaged his home. The reaction was caused by an unexpected guest, who turned out to be an alligator lying at the bottom of his backyard pool. On seeing this, the man immediately called the authorities, who removed and then transported the reptile to a safe location.
The American was puzzled as to how the animal managed to get onto his property, which was fenced on both sides. As the wildlife inspector later explained to him, the alligator was most likely forced to flee its original pond due to flooding and, by climbing over the fence, managed to get into his pool.
The incident in Stuart is not isolated. Due to the existing risk of encountering dangerous animals after the hurricane, even before the evacuation, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service warned about the danger and appealed to people not to enter the water immediately after the flood.