An ordinary suburban doorstep turned into an unexpected wildlife zone when two massive alligators showed up and rang the doorbell of a Floridahome.
On Friday, a user known as byzvntineshared a terrifying 30-second video captured by the family's Ring doorbell camera, which showed the moment two uninvited guests, each scaly and powerfully built, appeared right at the front door.
'Had a few visitors this morning,' the user captioned the footage, which was shared to a popular Redditforum dedicated to all things Florida.
They weren't wacky neighbors, salesmen or solicitors - but two, enormous semi-aquatic reptiles, proving that not all terrible houseguests have the decency of knocking first.
In the video, one of the alligators is seen towering by the front door on its hind legs with its snout pressed just inches away from the camera, offering a chilling glimpse into its fierce, predatory eye.
Its accomplice, clearly more comfortable on all-fours, lounged casually on the red brick walkway beneath the awning - seemingly unfazed as it watched its partner-in-crime politely handle the early morning doorbell duties.
Then, with a heavy thud, the door-bell ringer dropped back onto all fours - his snout almost hitting the teal blue door on the way down - as if proud to have accomplished a quite unusual task for a large reptile.
For a brief and civil moment, the alligator stared up at the front door's glass window. Behind it, its unbothered friend remained perfectly still in the same position - appearing to take the position of look-out.
An ordinary suburban doorstep turned into an unexpected wildlife zone when two massive alligators showed up and rang the doorbell of a Florida home, jumping and scratching on the doors to gain entry
At one point in the Ring camera footage, both alligators paused, as if genuinely expecting a friendly and unsuspecting host to graciously open the door and welcome them inside at a moment's notice
Together they paused, as if genuinely expecting a friendly and unsuspecting host to graciously open the door and welcome them inside at a moment's notice.
However, to the pair's upmost surprise, no one answered the door - despite their very well-mannered approach.
Growing impatient, the bold alligator seemed determined to not let its efforts go to waste. Its silent friend, still in the very same position, appeared to show no signs of giving up either.
Slowly, the doorbell ringer crept closer to the door, strolled right over the welcome mat with no clear sense of urgency, and settled just beneath the door's glass window.
It began scanning the walkway and the walls of the home - its neck slowly shifting upward and side to side - as if weighing its options for an alternative entry.
A moment later, a lightbulb seemed to go off. If no one was coming to the door, it would simply let itself in.
In a daring encore, it reared up on its hind legs for a second time. This time, though, it appeared to deliberately claw at the front door and the popcorn white-walls surrounding it.
At one point, the alligator even looked like it tried to open the door with complete, scratchy determination.
The move may have worked if it weren't for the sheer weight of its own head preventing its success.
It lost its balance just seconds after attempting the bold break-in, toppling sideways and thudding against a cushioned bench positioned just outside a window of the home.
For a brief second, it shifted its head slightly while caught between the wall and the bench's legs - possibly embarrassed it couldn't pull off the long-awaited grand entrance.
Meanwhile, its friend didn't budge.
The video quickly went viral on the platform racking up hundreds of comments - most making jokes about the reptiles oddly eager attempt at getting someone to answer the door.
'They're just inspectors looking for deficiencies in your houses construction,' one comment read. 'They're showing up so late because they've been swamped.'
A second said: 'So you're telling me they are... InvestiGATORS?'
'LMAO not them ringing the damn doorbell,' said another.
A fourth user wrote: 'It's rude not to answer the door to new neighbors.'
'If you're cold, they're cold,' another comment read. 'Take your swamp puppies inside.'
The alligator lost its balance just seconds after attempting a bold break-in for a second time, toppling sideways and thudding against a cushioned bench positioned just outside a window of the home while its unbothered friend didn't budge
American alligators, who have a lifespan of 30-50 years in the wild, are primarily found in both Florida and Louisiana.
The huge reptiles are pretty clumsy on land - hence the Ring doorbell footage - but can still reach speeds of up to 35 miles an hour sprinting on land. In the water, the terrifying creatures can glide through the murky water at 20 miles an hour, according to World Animal Protection.
Alligators have inhabited Florida's marshes, swamps, rivers and lakes for a long time, as they are found in all 67 counties.
There have been dozens of cases of Floridians having not-so-normal run-ins with the reptiles, especially after Hurricane Milton ripped through the state in early October.
In one case, residents of the Sunshine State opened their car door during the storm to find an agitated alligator snapping at the tire.
Christopher Gillette, of the Bellowing Acres Sanctuary for alligators and exotic animals, has previously warned locals to be wary of any wildlife hiding or taking shelter in areas they may usually not inhabit.
Severe weather conditions can often displace and disorient wildlife due to high winds, and flooding can allow more access to unusual areas.
As areas flood, alligators may be seen much more frequently. The FWC suggests keeping your distance and treating them with respect.
