A 7½-foot alligator spent the night on a Palm Bay family’s front porch before wildlife officials removed it early Saturday. The encounter occurred on a home just off St. Johns Heritage Parkway, where the reptile remained until a trapper arrived before sunrise. The family discovered the gator through a motion alert from a security camera mounted on their garage. "I heard something," said homeowner Wynn, who checked the camera feed and saw the alligator crawling from nearby grass toward her front door. "The shock factor is kind of jaw dropping." The family, who frequently let their small dog out during late hours, said they were terrified the gator could have attacked their pet. "If we didn’t get that security alert, who knows what would have happened," Wynn said. Palm Bay Police officers arrived first, but the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission called in a contracted trapper to safely remove the animal. The gator was measured at exactly 7 feet 6 inches, according to Wynn. The family said they see alligators often in neighborhood ponds but never so close to their home. The trapper removed the reptile without incident, and officials did not immediately comment on whether the gator would be relocated or euthanized. The incident has left the family on edge, with Wynn saying she’s been "looking over my shoulders, head on a swivel" since the encounter.