03 September: Alligator in the Garage

We returned from our trip to the Keys about 5:30 PM and unpacked the car through the garage.  A couple of hours later Kim went to put away some recycling.  Our recycling bins are just on the other side of the door between the garage and the kitchen.  Kim saw some cardboard boxes move and then heard hissing.  A second later she saw an alligator, mouth open, staring at her right next to the bins.  She came inside, pretty excited and wisely put a big basket down to block the cat door in the bottom of the kitchen/garage door. 

Good picture of how close he was to getting inside the house:

Some phone calls to neighbors (turns out one of our neighbors daughter's boyfriend is an alligator wrestler - only in Florida) and the authorities (there are different numbers and degrees of assistance depending on the size of "your" gator and his location) the following transpired. 

Swamp People, Stickney Style: