Don and Jan Schultz, who recently relocated from Arizona to New Iberia, called the police to assist in removing the reptile. The incident was captured on video and quickly went viral.
According to the Schultz couple, they believe the alligator entered their home through a dog door on the evening of June 23. Their Australian cattle dog, Panda, alerted them to the presence of the alligator around 1:30 a.m.
The couple described their initial shock when they encountered the reptile in their hallway, with Mr. Schultz narrowly avoiding a close encounter with the alligator's head.
After calling 911, three deputies from the Iberia Parish Sheriff's Office arrived at the scene. The Fish and Wildlife Department was also contacted, and an expert arrived around 2:15 a.m.
The expert speculated that the alligator might have been attracted by the cool air escaping from around the dog door during the hot weather.