As summer heats up across the South, pool technicians are being reminded that it’s not just algae or cloudy water that can cause a service delay. Sometimes, it’s a 7-foot alligator.

On May 31, Martin County Sheriff’s deputies in Jensen Beach, Florida, were called to a home in the Pinecrest Lakes neighborhood where a 7-foot alligator was discovered lounging in a residential pool. Deputies Dawn Ferris and Crystal Nash responded and coordinated with trapper Matt Hines to safely remove the gator, which had entered the pool despite a fully fenced yard.

And that wasn’t even the only gator pool call that day. Authorities reported a second incident in the same Florida county, making it two backyard pool invasions in less than 24 hours.

Just a few hundred miles up the coast, on the same weekend, police in Southport, North Carolina, responded to a similar scene: an alligator swimming in the pool of the River Hotel, a coastal property popular with vacationers. Though smaller than a 400-pound gator recently spotted in nearby Onslow County, the presence of any alligator in a commercial pool underscores a growing seasonal risk.

That’s because mating season means more movement.

Officials in both states attribute the surge in sightings to mating season, when alligators become more active and travel beyond their usual habitats. According to wildlife authorities, gators can climb fences, dig underneath them, or simply walk long distances in search of water, mates, or food.

In Southport, local police reported receiving nine gator-related calls in a single week in May — a volume high enough to raise eyebrows even in the Lowcountry.

What This Means for Pool Service Pros

For pool technicians working in Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, and other coastal regions, these incidents are more than strange headlines — they’re safety signals.

Whether you’re servicing residential pools, commercial properties, or vacation rentals, here’s how to stay safe and help your clients do the same:

• Inspect fencing and gate integrity. Remind clients to look for signs of digging or damage at the base of fences and gates.

• Check the pool perimeter before entering. Especially early in the morning or after storms, gators may seek shelter or shade near the water.

• Advise clients never to approach a gator. If a homeowner spots one, they should call local animal control or wildlife officials immediately.

• Know your liability. Pool professionals are not expected (and should not attempt) to handle wildlife. Make sure your team knows how to report sightings and when to leave a job site for safety.

• Communicate seasonally. A quick heads-up to your clients — particularly snowbirds or newcomers — can reinforce your professionalism and show you’re paying attention to their safety.

Footage from the Martin County Sheriff’s Office shows one of the Florida gators executing a “death roll” in the pool, a defensive technique used to disorient prey. It’s a powerful reminder that alligators are wild animals, not photo ops.

Fortunately, none of the recent incidents resulted in injury, and in all cases, the gators were successfully relocated.

Still, the trend is clear: as summer sets in, so does wildlife. And that means pool professionals should remain not just chemically aware, but creature aware — especially in regions where gators are part of the ecosystem.