Over the weekend in Daphne, Alabama, a backyard pool became the temporary stop for an unlikely guest: a baby alligator.
What happened?
According to WKRG, the small alligator was discovered in the swimming pool of a resident in Olde Towne Daphne during the weekend and was later released into nearby waters.
Daphne sits along the eastern shore of Mobile Bay, where waterways, marshy habitat, and suburban development often exist side by side.
Encounters like this tend to become more common in the area during warmer weather, when reptiles are generally more active. For an animal moving through a neighborhood, a swimming pool can look like an easy place to stop.
Why does it matter?
As neighborhoods continue to expand near wetlands, ponds, and bayous, residents are more likely to encounter species that have long lived in those areas. Backyard pools, retention ponds, canals, and drainage systems can also function as extensions of natural water networks, making it easier for animals to enter residential spaces…