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Article Courtesy of WFTV
Channel 9 Orlando
By Sarabeth Ackerman
Published June 15, 2018
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ORANGE COUNTY - The Lake Nona woman who saw an alligator just feet from her
6-year-old found out there's nothing she can do to have it removed.
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Mating season and her homeowners association stopped her from doing anything
about the animal.
Couple realizes alligator moved patio furniture in the middle of the night
Nicole Mojica’s video of the gator went viral last week. She was recording her
son playing with an inflatable gator on a Slip n' Slide, and just as she was
finished filming, she noticed a 4-foot gator was in the background of the shot
the entire time.
She said it isn't the first sighting.
"There was a gator two houses down at the front door, scratching at their door
and sitting on their front porch. It had to be removed. I'd like this one to be
removed, too,” she said.
Mojica said she contacted her HOA, and someone came out to her backyard and
looked around.
According to Mojica, her HOA told her nothing can be done since it's mating
season and the play equipment in her yard likely attracted the gator.
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A Lake Nona family was unknowingly playing just feet
away from a real alligator.
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Florida Fish and Wildlife officials said if an alligator
is larger than 4 feet in length and poses a threat to people, pets or
property, it can be removed.
All you would have to do is contact the nuisance alligator hotline, but in
Mojica's case, since she has an HOA, trappers cannot remove it without the
HOA's approval.
Mojica said she’s seen the alligator again since she recorded the video.
Channel 9 contacted her HOA but has not heard back.
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