Miami

Giant Gator Captured in SW Miami-Dade Neighborhood

An eight-foot alligator caused quite a commotion when it found its way to the front door of a home in Southwest Miami-Dade, Florida. 

The giant gator was discovered right outside Fernando Belmonte-Zbinden's front door in the Emerald Palms apartment complex off southwest 151st Street, near Zoo Miami.

"Everyone was psyched to see it... there were about 30 people out here," he said.

Belmonte-Zbinden said he first spotted the reptile when he stepped outside to walk his dog Wednesday afternoon.

"I went back inside, got my camera and started snapping away, photographs and video."

And then he said the gator started roaming from door to door, "It had its head leaning on the front door," he said.

You would think the close encounter would have had Belmonte-Zbinden and his neighbors afraid, but he said they were simply caught up in the moment.

It's believed the alligator came from a nearby canal right across from the gated community. And Belmonte-Zbinden said he's seen this same alligator before, last year.

"At the time it was six and a half feet... it wasn't as big," he said. "It was the same alligator because it was missing the same three scales on its tail."

Belmonte-Zbinden said Emerald Palms' property management called for help and soon a trapper arrived to take the gator away. Belmonte-Zbinden admitted he was a little disappointed.

"It wasn't aggressive and didn't mind people being around," he said.

Contact Us