There are about 1.3 million alligators in Florida, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). Since it is still mating season, they have been seen in neighborhoods, golf courses, and near lakes and ponds. Alligator mating season begins nearly April and lasts until June.

Recently, a couple was surprised to see an alligator in their garage while preparing for a birthday party. Likewise, a photographer was caught off guard by a larger alligator that tried to eat his camera while he was taking pictures in Everglades. Read on to know the full story.

Alligator Gatecrashes Pre-Birthday Celebration Days Before A Bigger One Chows Down A Photographer's Camera in Everglades
(Photo : Pexels/Dirk Schuneman)
Alligator Gatecrashes Pre-Birthday Celebration Days Before A Bigger One Chows Down A Photographer's Camera in Everglades

8-Foot Alligator Attacks Pile of Diet Coke

On Wednesday night, a couple from Naples were shocked to see an unannounced visitor that came to their garage. Jamie and Karyn Dobson told Wink News that they had recently moved to Florida from Chicago and were preparing for a birthday party. They suddenly heard an alarming noise that sounded like a car crash inside their garage.

Upon further investigation, the couple found a large alligator approximately 8 feet long. They said that the door was slightly left open and the huge reptile went in to chill or perhaps was looking for a mate.

During his time inside the garage, the alligator also encountered some cases of Diet Coke and decided to attack the innocent cans. Karyn said they had a bunch of soda stored in their garage for her upcoming birthday. But now, the garage floor is covered in Diet Coke and cans.

A video shared by the news outlet shows the animal hissing and backing into a corner that looks like it is ready to pounce anytime. Local authorities were called and the alligator was relocated. They reminded Florida residents to be mindful of alligator mating season as these reptiles are out there on the hunt, so it is best to always close the door.

ALSO READ: Bellowing Alligators in a South Florida Captured in Infrared Camera; What Does Their Unique Sound Means?

12-Foot Alligator Tried to Eat Photographer's Camera for Dinner

Days after that incident in Collier County, a photographer also shared his terrifying encounter with a 12-foot alligator while taking photographs in the Big Cypress National Preserve near Everglades.

Bobby Wummer told Huff Post that an alligator tried to eat his camera for dinner when it decided to sink its sharp teeth into his equipment. Wummer used a 12-foot extension pole to mount his GoPro and take a close-up shot of the alligator when suddenly, the massive predator lunged at the camera.

"As you can see I did get an EXTREME close up inside the gator's mouth," he wrote on Facebook. "This was not done intentionally, I didn't think that he would actually lunge up and bite down on the cam."

The photographer considered himself lucky that the alligator didn't play tug of war, or his camera would probably be ruined. The alligator let go of the camera after realizing it was not food and the gadget only suffered minor damage. 

Experts have always reminded people to be aware of their surroundings and use extra caution during the mating season, especially when in waters where alligators live. Most especially, they advise to stay away from these reptiles in the wild and do not feed them so they will not associate humans with food.

RELATED ARTICLE: Massive 10-Foot Alligator Walks in a Neighborhood in Florida on Easter Sunday as Mating Season Begins [Watch]

Check out more news and information on Alligators in Science Times.