Florida Man Arrested For Keeping Alligators In His Backyard Pool

Only eight percent of American homes have a swimming pool, whether in-ground or above ground, highlighting that most people live without this luxury. Even those who have never owned a pool are aware that these watery spaces are typically meant for swimming and family fun. However, for one Florida man, his backyard pool was quite different, as it had a strict no-swim rule in place.

In Marion County, Florida, located southeast of Gainesville and northwest of Orlando, a man found himself in a troubling situation. After hearing a knock on his door, he opened it to discover two uniformed officers seeking answers to some pointed questions. The officers were from the Marion County Wildlife Department and had received a tip-off regarding the man's unusual pet situation.

The officers informed the man that they had been told he was keeping two giant alligators in his pool. Initially, he denied the claim, but after some questioning, he admitted that there were indeed alligators swimming in his backyard. This shocking revelation led the officers to investigate further.

As they approached the pool, they discovered not only the alligators but also a large, recently-killed alligator and numerous illegally captured slider turtles. In Florida, owning red-eared slider turtles requires a permit, and the man had none. Following this discovery, authorities arrested the man, charging him with two counts of possession of an alligator and one count each of unlawful take of turtles.

It's hard to imagine the chaos that might ensue at a family gathering if someone accidentally dipped their toes into a pool with alligators lurking beneath. This bizarre incident seems straight out of a reality show like Tiger King, making one wonder about the lengths people will go to for exotic pets.