Firemen spot alligator at 3:30 am. It tries hiding behind tree, NC video shows

Firefighters see strange things in the middle of the night, but it was something new when a crew in eastern North Carolina saw a large alligator trying to hide behind a small tree in someone’s front yard.

It happened at 3:30 a.m. Monday, June 15, on Green Hill Road in Leland, and video shows the predator failed miserably at trying to blend into its surroundings.

“Firefighters are taught to expect the unexpected and to ensure scene safety, especially in the middle of the night,” Winnabow Volunteer Fire Department wrote in a Facebook post. “We frequently encounter a protective pet, but this time was a little different.”

Engine 4 was headed to a medical emergency when the alligator appeared in the road, then moved into the yard, officials said. The crew didn’t linger to find out where it was headed.

Alligators are native to parts of the North Carolina coast, but they gravitate to property near ponds, rivers and swamps.

In this case, the yard was nowhere near a body of water, making the alligator “out of the ordinary,” officials said.

The property owner was alerted, and was reportedly “surprised” at the discovery.

The department’s video of the alligator has been viewed thousands of times on social media, and reactions have included a suggestion that the property owner consider moving.

Winnabow is about a 145-mile drive southeast from downtown Raleigh.

This story was originally published June 16, 2026 at 9:27 AM.