Who’s in the pool? Camera catches gator taking a dip in Sarasota, police say

A Sarasota County homeowner had to have an unusual trespasser removed from their swimming pool on Tuesday after receiving a security camera alert, according to the Venice Police Department.

The uninvited guest didn’t ask for permission to go for a dip, and they weren’t even wearing a bathing suit.

In fact, the cold-blooded bather was a 9-foot, 4-inch alligator, police say.

The department said a resident of Toscana Isles was alerted to the alligator’s presence around 5:45 a.m. via a Ring security camera.

Police say the reptile “forced entry,” pushing its way through the screened pool enclosure before submerging in the pool.

The alligator was safely removed by a contracted trapper through Florida’s Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program (SNAP), the department said.

Gator removed from Venice pool, police say

With alligator nesting season underway, police reminded residents to stay alert near water and treat the iconic Florida critters with respect.

“Mating season typically occurs in May and June, with females building mound nests and laying eggs in late June or early July. Hatchlings usually emerge between mid-August and early September,” the department said.

Police shared the following tips:

• Observe alligators from a safe distance
• Keep pets on a leash and away from the water’s edge
• Keep children away from ponds, lakes, canals and other bodies of water

Nuisance alligators can be reported to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s SNAP hotline at 866-FWC-GATOR (866-392-4286).