8-Foot Alligator Busts Through Florida Home's Front Door and Invades Woman's Kitchen

Mary Hollenback had an "only in Florida" moment when she got up from relaxing and found an alligator in her home.

On March 28, the woman heard banging at the front screen door of her home in the Grand Palm Community in Venice, FOX 13 reported.

"I thought it was somebody else who didn't live here trying to get into the wrong house," Hollenback told the outlet.

In response to the commotion, the woman got up from the couch and checked who was at the door. She didn't find a confused person. Instead, she was faced with a sizable alligator.

The wild reptile, measuring 7 feet and 11 inches, busted its way into Hollenback's home through the front screen door and was now on its way to the kitchen. The homeowner explained to WFLA that the gator didn't need to try too hard to get in because only a magnetic clasp kept the door shut.

"He was pushing through that, and it broke the magnetic clasp. The door opened, and he just came in," Hollenback told the outlet.

A shocked Hollenback called 9-1-1 for help getting the gator out of her house.

"I was shaking so badly, I didn't know who else to call. I don't even think I could have looked up a phone numbe -

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r," she told FOX 13.

Two deputies from the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office and three officials from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission were dispatched to handle the scaly intruder, per WFLA. The authorities quickly removed the alligator from Hollenback's house.

Hollenback told the outlet that she was "shaken" by the experience, but overall, she was relieved that the authorities quickly handled the issue. She believes the alligator likely wandered into her home from one of the 50 ponds in the community.

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"Only in Florida are you going to get an alligator in the house," Hollenback added to FOX 13.

The outlet reported that the alligator who strolled into Hollenback's house was transported to an alligator farm.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission encourages Florida residents who encounter alligators near or in their homes to call the Florida Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 866-FWC-GATOR (866-392-4286).

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