A chilling encounter unfolded as a couple stumbled upon an unexpected intruder inside their home.
A couple residing in Louisiana, Don and Jan Schultz, were left in a state of fear when they uncovered a five-foot alligator that had managed to infiltrate their home.
Don and Jan Schultz, originally hailing from Arizona, immediately alerted the authorities upon spotting the reptilian intruder within their abode.
Having recently relocated to New Iberia, the Schultz couple managed to capture the alarming incident on camera.
The footage reveals a professional trapper deftly seizing the alligator using a catch pole while it remained motionless inside their dwelling.
According to reports, Panda, the Schultz family’s Australian cattle dog, had raised the alarm about the alligator’s presence around 1:30 am.
The couple suspected that the gator had gained entry into their home through the dog door earlier that evening.
Don Schultz recounted the hair-raising moment when he descended downstairs armed with his pistol, only to notice a “shape on the edge of the rug.”
Still groggy from just waking up, he admitted, “I couldn’t focus very good having just woke up. But when the full shape registered in my brain, I jumped back. My foot had only been about 12 [inches] away from its head.”
Immediately, the couple dialed 911, and three deputies from the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office promptly responded to the distress call.
Don Schultz added, “They called the Fish and Wildlife Department, who sent a guy out. He showed up around … 2:15 a.m.”
The experts speculated that due to the scorching temperatures over the past couple of weeks, the alligator must have sensed the cool air seeping through the dog door and simply followed it into the house.
The captured alligator reportedly put up fierce resistance during its capture.
Eventually, it was safely extracted and secured in the Schultz family’s garage.
Image Credit: Stil from the video