Stock image of an American alligator.Photo:Getty Stock Images/iStockphoto

Stock photo of American alligator

Getty Stock Images/iStockphoto

A Florida couple brought new meaning to the phrase “See you later, alligator” this week when a nearly 7-foot reptile suddenly appeared in their home — prompting them to get wildlife officials involved.

“I’m like, ‘Is that really an alligator in my living room or in the kitchen area here?’ " Paul said. “And then he saw me and he started running and I’m like, ‘Oh, crap, I got to deal with this today?’ "

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As for how the reptile found its way in the home, per WBBH, the Quinns often leave their door open for a nice breeze — meaning the intruder likely broke through a screen to gain access.

“That made me nervous,” Mary Jo said of the ordeal. “I don’t want to have a fear of an alligator just walking up our front walk into our foyer again. I can’t live like that. I live in Florida. I love living here. I’m not leaving.”

“They always tell you to be careful, you know, be mindful of the alligators,” Paul added. “This is why.”

According to the FWC’swebsite, state residents who have “waterfront homes” or “participate in water-related activities” may find themselves in “frequent alligator-human interactions.” Residents should “never feed an alligator” and must keep their “distance” if they see one, with Floridians encouraged to “keep pets on a leash and away from the water.”

This latest alligator run-in in Florida comes less than two months after resident Stacy Thrasher caught a video of a gatorcasually walking along a pathwaytoward a home in Ave Maria.

source: people.com