When Chris Tuttle moved his family into the Marsh Cove neighborhood, he learned about the bars blocking the storm drain in his backyard pond.
It’s called a “gator gate.”
“It goes in front, and its bars go across so gators can’t get through,” Tuttle said.
Tuttle said the neighborhood hasn’t had any nuisance alligators because of the gate.
Neighbors can recall one gator in 20 years, despite living near several ponds.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission describes a nuisance gator as being at least 4 feet long and believed to be a threat to people, pets or property.
According to Florida Fish and Wildlife statistics, the state received nearly 14,000 calls for nuisance gators last year.
More than half of those gators were removed.
Tuttle said with young children and a dog, he’s happy the gate is there.
He also said people in residential areas may not expect to see an alligator but should be prepared for an encounter with one.
“I think you can get lulled into a false sense of security,” Tuttle said.
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