Alligator found during home inspection

(CMR) A house inspector in North Carolina was in for a shock when he stumbled upon a large alligator during a routine inspection of a newly built three-story house in Echo Farms.

Dean Brown, who works for New Hanover County‘s code enforcement division, initially believed that the alligator was a stuffed animal and had been placed in the attic as a joke until it started moving. However, he soon realized that it was alive and breathing.

“I was about 2 feet away from stepping on its head!” Brown said. The alligator's eyes opened when he shined a flashlight in its face, but it appeared to be sleeping.

Brown immediately instructed the construction workers to evacuate the building, but they did not take him seriously. “They laughed at me! They thought I was crazy!” he said.

After confirming the alligator's presence, Brown and his team dialed 911, and animal control authorities arrived on the scene to seize the animal. The 8-foot alligator had apparently entered the house through an open door, and its journey to the attic remains a mystery.

Brown, who has been working in the industry since 1995, stated that he has seen many bizarre situations but has never encountered anything like this before. Wetlands are located behind the house, which may explain how the alligator entered the area.