There are certain Florida stories that, while never exactly shocking, always earn a second look. “Man wakes up to find alligator in his pool” is among the state’s most reliable genre offerings—at this point, it might as well be a reminder in Floridian day planners. Yet, the details never fail to deliver that perfect blend of domestic routine and swampy surprise.
Florida: Where the Neighbors Are Reptilian and Unbothered
On Sunday morning in Ponte Vedra Beach, Edward McClamma opened his door to something distinctly Floridian: a full-sized alligator swimming lazy laps across his backyard pool. News4JAX reports that McClamma encountered the gator while stepping outside, capturing the encounter in photos and video rather than, say, running for the patio furniture. According to both News4JAX and UPI’s summary of the event, the uninvited swimmer spent some quality time meandering across the bottom before paddling its way to the pool steps—perhaps contemplating the etiquette of towel use.
When it comes to reptilian setbacks, Floridians tend to respond with a calm honed by repeated viewings of “how to safely close a lanai door.” The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, contacted by the homeowner, sent a professional trapper to the scene, who removed the alligator without incident. UPI notes that authorities have these calls down to a science, and that the operation resulted in no harm to human, property, or gator. News4JAX frames the visit as unexpected yet handled with practiced efficiency—a far cry from the cinematic chaos the rest of the country might imagine.
Hot Days, Cool Pools, and the Occasional Scaled Guest
It’s worth noting that this is part of a broader summer phenomenon, not just a quirk of McClamma’s backyard design. UPI points out that, just weeks ago, the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office in North Carolina found themselves plumbing the depths of a community pool in search of a wayward baby alligator—who, in a scene straight out of a children’s book, was “relocated to a more appropriate swimming spot.” Clearly, gators have their own map of summer essentials.
The logic here isn’t difficult to follow. Pools must look awfully refreshing to a creature evolved for basking and lurking, especially as the June heat builds up. If anything, pools may be the 21st-century equivalent of the old swimming hole—open to interpretation by critters small and toothy.
The Everyday Theatre of Florida Wildlife
Part of what makes this story so perfectly Floridian is the air of professional nonchalance from all involved. Both News4JAX and UPI reflect a matter-of-fact demeanor: the homeowner documents, officials extract, and life resumes. There’s no suggestion of panic, no dramatic standoff; just another mild surprise absorbed into daily routine.
It sparks some questions for those of us less accustomed to amphibious home invaders: Do Floridians maintain a mental checklist each morning—Coffee? Wallet? Alligator perimeter scan? And, perhaps more importantly, after a reptilian pool party, does the ambiance of a backyard oasis ever quite return to “relaxing”?
Chlorine and Coexistence
These encounters are almost a form of civic tradition—moments when the wild and the domesticated cross paths, each seemingly unfazed by the other. The regularity of such reports, as documented by both aforementioned outlets, is a gentle (if toothy) reminder that in parts of Florida, the boundary between nature and suburbia remains a work in progress.
Maybe McClamma will glance twice at the water’s surface before taking a morning swim. Or maybe, in true Floridian spirit, he’ll just consider this a minor inconvenience—an anecdote for the next neighborhood gathering. Who can say where the next gator story will emerge, or if the next poolside visitor prefers a different brand of sunscreen?
What’s clear is that, in Florida, the pool is always open—and occasionally, the guest list is more “wild kingdom” than “country club.”
