What started as an ordinary doorstep quickly turned into a bizarre wildlife encounter when two giant alligators showed up and rang the doorbell at a Florida home.
On Friday, April 18, a user named byzvntine shared a 30-second video captured by their Ring doorbell camera. The footage, posted to a popular Florida-focused Reddit forum, shows the two enormous alligators approaching the front door as if they were guests stopping by for a visit.
“They’re just inspectors looking for deficiencies in your house’s construction,” one commenter joked. Another added, “So you’re telling me they’re… InvestiGATORS?”
In the video, one of the alligators stands tall on its hind legs, pressing its snout to the camera for an unnervingly close look into its cold, watchful eye. The other alligator lingers on the walkway, motionless and relaxed, with no sense of urgency. With a thud, the doorbell-ringing gator drops back onto all fours, its snout nearly touching the teal-blue door, as if satisfied with the task. The two alligators then sit there for a moment, almost as though they were genuinely expecting someone to answer the door.
When no one responds, the determined gator ups the ante. It creeps forward, walks over the welcome mat, and peers through the glass door. After a brief pause, it lifts itself again, attempting to claw at the door and nearby wall. The alligator even seems to try opening the door, scratching with purpose.
However, its head throws off its balance, and the alligator tumbles sideways into a cushioned bench, wedging itself awkwardly between the wall and bench legs. For a moment, it shifts uncomfortably, possibly feeling a bit embarrassed, while its laid-back companion remains completely unfazed, still lounging calmly.
The video quickly went viral, attracting hundreds of comments. “LMAO not them ringing the damn doorbell,” one user commented. Another wrote, “If you’re cold, they’re cold. Take your swamp puppies inside.”
American alligators, native to Florida and Louisiana, may appear clumsy on land but can move surprisingly fast—up to 35 mph on land and 20 mph in water. In Florida, they are found in all 67 counties and are frequently spotted, especially after major storms like Hurricane Milton, which hit the state in October. These storms can displace wildlife, driving them into areas they don’t typically inhabit.
Christopher Gillette from Bellowing Acres Sanctuary has urged locals to stay alert and give the animals space. “Flooding gives alligators access to places they normally wouldn’t reach. Always keep your distance,” he advised.
In the end, no one answered the door, and the alligators eventually wandered off.
