Trappers Remove 7-Foot Nuisance Alligator from Viera Neighborhood After Stalking Family Dog

gator repeatedly appeared behind Rusty Barrett's home, showed interest in his family’s dog

BREVARD COUNTY • VIERA, FLORIDA — A nuisance alligator measuring more than seven feet long was removed this week from the Herons Landing community in Viera after residents reported it had been stalking a dog in a backyard for the past month.

Resident Rusty Barrett shared in a neighborhood social media post that the 7.3-foot gator had repeatedly appeared behind his home, showing particular interest in his family’s dog. After weeks of sightings, state-licensed trappers were called in to safely remove the animal.

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), alligators that pose a threat to people, pets, or property are classified as “nuisance” and can be removed through the agency’s Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program.

Alligators are common in Brevard County’s retention ponds and canals, especially during warmer months when they become more active and territorial. Wildlife officials remind residents to keep pets away from the water’s edge and never to feed or approach alligators.

Residents who encounter aggressive or nuisance alligators can contact the FWC’s Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 866-FWC-GATOR (392-4286).

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