by A woman in Florida has shared video footage from the day she was surprised by an unexpected visitor on her doorstep: an alligator.
Ashley Delgado from Land O’Lakes captured the shocking sight of the apex predator lurking around her porch on her Vivint security camera. That footage was subsequently shared with Newsweek and makes for alarming viewing.
Though Delgado is not visible on the clip, voices are audible at one point during the five-minute video, suggesting she or another friend or family member may well have been inside the house at the time.
It’s easy to imagine that the sight of the alligator outside the door put them off going outside. In that sense, having the camera in place has already proven a wise move for Delgado.
Do Alligators Or Crocodiles Live In Florida?
According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), South Florida holds the unique distinction of being the only place in the world where both crocodiles and alligators exist. While the two species share some similarities, there is one simple way of distinguishing alligators from crocodiles.
The USGS states: “Alligators have a more U-shaped snout while crocodiles have a more pointed or V-shaped one. In addition, alligators are black, while crocodiles are usually a lighter grayish brown.” The dark coloring and broad snout of the animal in this video indicates Delgado was visited by an alligator on this particular day.
How dangerous are alligators?
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has been keeping a record of alligator bites on people since 1948. According to their files, as of February 2026, 500 bites have occurred in the state. 346 of these were considered “major” incidents, with 32 of these major incidents resulting in a fatality.
The most recent of these victims was Deborah Herndon, a 73-year-old woman who was found deceased at a residential pond in Palm Harbor in Pinellas County on October 28, 2025. The responsible alligator was 6’ 8” in length.
What Do I Do If I Encounter An Alligator?
The best advice to anyone worried about encountering an alligator is to keep your distance, never feed them, and if one charges, run straight away and fight back only as a last resort. It’s also important to stay mindful of when it is alligator breeding season.
The times to be most vigilant are early April, when males start searching for mates and asserting territory, and the period from May to June when mating occurs and males are at their most territorial and aggressive towards rivals.
Alligator Sightings In Florida
This isn’t the first time an alligator sighting in Florida has caught the attention of the internet. In March 2022, an alligator was captured on CCTV prowling around an apartment complex around midnight. In June 2023, meanwhile, a video surfaced online of an alligator lurking close to a group of kids who were happily swimming, oblivious to the danger. More recently in June 2024, a man shared a video to TikTok of the large alligator he encountered while out walking in Florida.
Newsweek’s reporters and editors used Martyn, our AI assistant, to help produce this story. Learn more about Martyn.
