Video cameras captured a terrifying moment this week when a giant alligator was simply smashed through a newly installed metal fence at a Florida golf club.
It comes just weeks after an 85-year-old woman was killed by a massive alligator in the Sunshine State, where three people have been killed by the reptiles in the past eight months.
A local weather forecaster shared the video from the Gulf Coast town of Placida, which has garnered over a million views on Facebook and 50,000 likes on Instagram.
“Check out this big guy flexing the aluminum bars and plowing through at Placida this week,” wrote Matt Devitt. Aluminum is considered a light metal, which explains how the giant alligator was able to get through the fence so easily, Devitt told Fox 35.
Florida alligators are known to be more active in the spring and have been spotted climbing fences in the past, but this alligator clearly wanted a more direct route.
Video cameras captured a terrifying moment this week when a giant alligator was simply smashed through a newly installed metal fence at a Florida golf club
Devitt noted that the person who originally took the video said the alligator eventually ate its way completely onto the other side.
“He knows what he’s doing… he’s done it before,” one Facebook commenter joked on Devitt’s post.
“That’s why in Florida, if there’s a body of water, there’s an alligator in it! Stay safe folks! ‘ chimed in another on Instagram.
The state is home to about 1.3 million alligators and is considered a threat to humans if they are longer than 4 feet.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission removed four of the reptiles from the fenced-in Spanish Lakes Fairways communities after Gloria Serge, 85, died in a brutal attack.
She was beaten to death by the 10 foot alligator named Henry while trying to save her beloved dog Trooper from the beast.
Henry was later captured and euthanized, while three other reptiles were subsequently captured and removed from the series of interconnected lakes by wildlife officials.
Struggling to save Gloria, a terrified neighbor called 911 after seeing the alligator eat her lunch after chasing her for 100 feet.
Her dog, Trooper, survived the attack, with the reptile being captured and euthanized after her death.
A local weather forecaster shared the video from the Gulf Coast town of Placida, which has garnered over a million views on Facebook and 50,000 likes on Instagram
“Check out this big guy flexing the aluminum bars and plowing through at Placida this week,” wrote Matt Devitt
Devitt noted that the person who originally took the video said the alligator eventually ate its way completely onto the other side
Judy Murray, Gloria’s neighbor, told TMZ she saw authorities remove all the alligators from the communities’ lakes.
However, she is unaware of where the alligators were taken after their removal, as some pictures of the beasts were taped up and tied up before officers transported them onward.
There are five to six lakes in the community, though Judy says she’s not usually afraid of alligators.
She added that Gloria may have had a “senior moment” when she decided to walk Trooper along the water’s edge – when the pup returned to live with her family.
Jay Mandelker, president of the Spanish Lakes Fairways HOA, said the alligators were removed to try to calm nervous residents’ fears.
He told TCPalm: “They did this to allay any concerns and make us aware of the precautions we should be taking regarding wildlife, especially alligators.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission removed all reptiles from the gated Spanish Lakes Fairways communities after Gloria Serge, 85, died in a brutal attack
Gloria Serge (pictured) was a grandmother living at the Spanish Lakes Fairways retirement community in Fort Pierce, Fla., when she was killed by an alligator on Monday
“If you walk by a lake, a pond, anywhere in Florida, understand, this is Florida, there might be alligators, so don’t walk against the edges of a pond or lake, stay a safe distance.”
Gloria’s final moments were captured with a trail camera at the Spanish Lakes Fairways retirement community in Fort Pierce, Florida.
She can be seen walking her dog along the lake when the alligator appears and then rushes towards the couple.
The 85-year-old tried to get the dog away from the alligator’s jaws, but the alligator grabbed her instead and could be seen dragging her into the lake.
Her terrified neighbor Carole Thomas, 76, told Inside Edition that she tried to help the woman while she was on the phone to 911.
It’s unclear where the alligators were taken after their removal, with some pictures of the beasts taped up and tied up before officials transported them onward
Gloria Serge, 85, was walking her dog by the lake in the Spanish Lakes Fairways community in Fort Pierce, Fla., on Monday when an alligator attacked her and dragged her into the water
Video released later shows Serge trying to get her dog away from the alligator’s jaws, but the alligator grabbed her instead and could be seen dragging her into the lake
Trooper the Trooper: Pictured is grandmother’s dog being walked when the alligator attacked. He survived
She said, “There’s a woman in the lake. The alligator has them! I think she’s gone, oh my god.”
Thomas said she got a pole to try and haul the woman ashore, but said, “There’s no way I could have reached her sooner.”
She added: “It’s terrible for her family. It’s just awful, awful. And her friends, I spoke to some of her friends yesterday who are devastated.’
Her body was later recovered from the lake.
Local residents told Inside Edition the alligator is a fixture in the neighborhood they called Henry.
Florida authorities are warning residents not to walk their pets near ponds in lakes in the area.
Gloria is the third victim to be killed by an alligator in Florida since last July.