Southwest Florida mom mistakes fighting alligators for home intruder

A Southwest Florida woman says she's lucky after two alligators violently fighting crashed into her lanai.

Kayla Burress thought someone was breaking into her home when she heard a loud noise getting closer by the second. Her baby was sleeping just feet away.

"I thought somebody was breaking in because I never thought that the Gators were going to enter my porch," Burress said.

When she looked outside, two large alligators were locked in a violent fight. The gators slammed into the screen enclosure, tearing through it and leaving behind twisted metal and shredded mesh.

"It definitely looked like they were fighting over territory or something," Burress said. "It wasn't like a mating ritual that I had seen, because there was blood and it had it some hind quarters, like in its jaws through the door."

Burress warned her neighbors to watch their children and pets.

"It was scary," Burress said. "And I just warned everybody else in the neighborhood, like, watch your kids. Watch the dogs. Because it was, it was fast and they were powerful."

Wildlife experts say this kind of behavior, while alarming, isn't completely unheard of, especially during mating season, which is happening now. Big males are chasing out younger males in competition, and younger males are looking for new habitats.

Ranger Rob said people should never intervene when they see aggressive alligator behavior.

"They're also going to be on edge because they think their life is at stake," Ranger Rob said. "So they're going to do everything they can. So when you trap them, corner them, they're going to show those they're going to show defensive behaviors and aggressive behaviors."

Wildlife officials say if you ever see aggressive alligator behavior, call it in right away. During mating season, alligators tend to be more aggressive, so stay a safe distance away from bodies of water.