The female gator was found Wednesday by a group of painters, local media reported. It would have had to climb two flights of stairs to get to the second floor, said wildlife trapper Ray "the Trapper" Simonsen. Simonsen believes the reptile likely came from a lake behind the complex.
Simonsen estimated he's seen a dozen alligators climb stairs during his seven years as a trapper.
"I've said it before and I'll say it again: Gators can climb," he told WBBH-TV.
Simonsen emphasized that people who live in areas where gators are common should always be aware of their surroundings. Residents shouldn't leave their doors open, he said. Simonsen added that he's found gators in unusual places.
"Pools, garages, lanais, stairwells, vehicles. I even captured one in an elevator," he told WFTX-TV.
Anyone who encounters an alligator shouldn't touch it and should immediately call police or animal control, Simonsen said.
About the Author