After the devastating impact of Hurricane Milton, experts are cautioning residents about animals potentially entering their homes.
The hurricane recently struck various areas of Florida, prompting officials to advise evacuations in certain locations.
While many individuals heeded the warnings and relocated to safer places, reports have surfaced about a prison, housing more than 1,000 inmates, that remained non-evacuated despite being situated in the storm’s path.
As people who adhered to evacuation orders gradually return to their residences, they may discover unexpected wildlife inside their homes.
A TikTok video shows a family opening their front door to their waterlogged home, only to be confronted by an alligator.
“Holy sh*t,” one family member exclaimed as the alligator exhibited aggression. At that moment, one might consider relinquishing their home to the reptile.
Reflecting on this incident, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has alerted the public that alligators, bears, snakes, and manatees may be dislodged by rising floodwaters and strong winds, according to GB News.
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Christopher Gillette, a biologist, also cautioned specifically about alligators, using Instagram on October 10 to advise people to avoid the floodwaters from Hurricane Milton.
He posted: “Gator safety during the hurricane!! Watch for snakes and gators in the floodwaters, stay safe and stay out of the water! The usual Gator safety talk, don’t feed them, keep kids and pets away from the water, don’t swim or wade in the water!”
He continued, “The risk posed by wildlife in the flood waters is actually relatively low, you should really stay out because it’ll be full of human sewage.”
In another video, Christopher shared that during events like flooding or hurricanes, alligators can remain underwater for up to six hours.
Considering this, he expressed minimal concern for the alligators residing at his Bellowing Acres Sanctuary.
In a conversation with PEOPLE, Christopher talked about the possibility of displaced snakes.
“There will be many displaced animals that people have to watch out for, including snakes on the ground,” he told the outlet. “They can be easy to miss when they’re among all of the fallen branches on the ground. People need to be really careful navigating areas in the aftermath.”
Stay safe, everyone!