A resident in Lithia, Florida, spotted an alarming and uninvited guest in his swimming pool this week after he discovered a 7- to 8-foot-long alligator beneath the water’s surface. Both local authorities and a tapper were called to the scene to remove the massive reptile.

Photos of the gator were shared to social media Wednesday by the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office (HCSO), which confirmed the size of the gator and wrote that a trapper for the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission was called to the residence.

“Deputies on scene now, apprehension of this trespassing suspect should be interesting,” HCSO wrote. “Alligator in residential pool.”

Responding to a “yikes” meme shared by the Walton County Sheriff's Office, HCSO tweeted: “For sure, good thing there were no swimmers in the pool this morning.”

The gator was later safely trapped and removed from the home’s pool.

NBC-affiliate WFLA reported Thursday the homeowner’s discovery of the gator was not the first occurrence of uninvited wildlife taking a dip in the pool. According to the man, who was not named in reports, he has also had to remove a small deer from the swimming pool prior to the alligator incident.

The local news site reported that the gator would be taken to a farm where it will be protected by the state and used for breeding.

The phenomenon of alligators appearing in Florida swimming pools is not uncommon. The Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission reports that alligators become most active when temperatures are between 82 and 92 degrees, and the reptiles are known to appear in residential pools during warmer seasons.

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