Deputies pretend to cuff an eight-foot alligator "trespassing"­ in the deep end of a family swimming pool at Naples Heritage.

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For a minute, Ellen Lukanc thought her mother still had one of those green plastic alligators from her childhood.

But when her mom, Natalie Peat, assured her those inflatables had long since bitten the dust, Lukanc knew she was looking at the real thing – an eight-foot-long, 170-pound alligator, submerged in the deep end of her parent’s swimming pool.

The Naples Heritage residents were surprised early Mar. 8 by the discovery of the gator, which had torn a gaping hole in their lanai screen enclosure to enter the pool.

Such behavior is not uncommon, according to Florida Wildlife Conservation Commission alligator management coordinator, Harry Dutton.

“We get a lot of calls about alligators in pools,” he said. “If the gator’s home has dried up, or it’s not getting adequate food, shelter or protection, it’ll go somewhere that meets its needs better.”

In this case, homeowner Natalie Peat speculates the reptile may have come from a pond on the 14th hole, well out of sight of her home on the third fairway. Or perhaps it came from a pond on a golf course in another community across the street.

Dutton says usually, there’s some sort of attraction, such as a pet or human activity, but that wasn’t the case this time. He suggests the gator’s presence had more to do with drought conditions, adding that increasing development has also spurred increased reports.

An eight-foot, 170-pound alligator enjoys a swim in the deep end of a Naples Heritage pool.

“We have a robust population of alligators in the state and plenty of growth and development,” he explained. “They’re not migrating from the wilderness to urban areas; we’re building in their backyards.”

Whatever the reason for the reptile’s presence, Peat’s call to the Collier Sheriff’s Office administration number generated plenty of response.

Before a trapper could lasso the beast, single-handedly haul it out of the pool and secure its jaw, at least seven deputies arrived on scene to observe, along with numerous golfers, neighbors and club staffers, according to Peat.

In this case, the sheriff’s office contacted a certified trapper, but Dutton says the FWC would prefer alligator nuisance calls go through the agency’s tollfree hotline number -- 866-FWC-GATOR (392-4289).

In May 2006, alligator attacks caused three fatalities in Florida. That had never happened before or since and the deaths heightened public awareness, causing an outpouring of complaints ,as well as a spike in nuisance reports, making it the busiest year on record for the FWC.

In 2007, the numbers dropped dramatically and has remained steady, averaging about 15,000 to 18,000 reports per year, according to Dutton.

A look at the FWC summary of nuisance calls and alligators trappings reveals that, while the number of nuisance reports in Collier County seems disproportionately high compared to captures, the numbers fall in the middle compared with the rest of the state. Palm Beach County led the state, with 810 captures in 2007, followed by Lee County, with 649. Collier was well below that, with 241 captures last year.

Dutton noted that alligator mating season runs April through May, during which the reptiles may be more visible and more aggressive. Readers are urged to be especially aware of their surroundings.

If an alligator comes onto your property, Dutton dissuades residents from calling 9-1-1 right away.

“The most important thing is to secure yourself, your kids and your pets, then make the call,” he said.

To report a nuisance alligator, call toll-free, 866-FWC-GATOR (392-4289). Visit MyFWC.com/gators. to learn more.