Alabama: See Video Of Man Using Trash Can To Trap Alligator

I don't think I could live in Florida.

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Gators aren't officially on my main list of creatures that I have a huge problem with, like spiders and highly venomous snakes.

For the record, it's also the highly venomous spiders that make my list of creatures I don't want anywhere around me.

I know that many people in the southern United States have encountered alligators, especially in states like Florida, Louisiana, Georgia, South Carolina, and Alabama.

Yeah, even Alabama is on the list.

Unfortunately, there has been a pretty significant uptick in gator sightings in Alabama.

These reptiles (always sounds weird to say that) are common in freshwater swamps, lakes, and marshes, and sometimes they venture into residential areas that are anywhere near water.

Now, we have a video of a man armed with only a trash can as he faces down an alligator.

*From Facebook/Fox 35 Orlando

I saw a post on some alligator "safety" site that had this pearl of wisdom for all of us...

For residents and visitors, encounters can be startling but often harmless if proper precautions are taken. People walking near water bodies might see an alligator basking in the sun or swimming nearby

What? You might see one basking in the sun?

Do alligators "bask" in anything?

Yes, an encounter with an alligator would definitely be "startling". That's why I avoid them at all costs.

One more thought from another one of those "gator" lovers .....While most alligator encounters are passive, they serve as a reminder of the importance of respecting local wildlife.

Most alligators are passive, right up until they rip your arm off.