Only in Florida: A 15-foot python, a beach alligator and a bear — All in one weekend

COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. — Florida is known for its sunshine, beautiful beaches and extraordinary wildlife. But one weekend in Southwest Florida offered a particularly unusual reminder that wild animals can turn up almost anywhere.

A massive Burmese python near a resort, an alligator swimming near a popular beach and a black bear crossing a busy road were all reported in Collier County over the same weekend.

The three encounters, reported by Gulf Coast News on November 9, highlighted the sometimes surprising relationship between Florida’s growing communities and the wildlife that shares their surroundings.

A 15-Foot Python Near a Naples Resort

The first unusual encounter came Friday evening, when a female Burmese python measuring approximately 15 feet was discovered near a resort in the Naples area.

Burmese pythons are an invasive species in Florida, particularly in the southern part of the state. These large constrictors can prey on native wildlife and pose a serious challenge to the region’s ecosystem.

Finding one of this size near a resort serves as a reminder that encounters with invasive reptiles are not limited to remote wilderness areas.

An Alligator Takes a Swim Near Beachgoers

On Sunday afternoon, an alligator was spotted swimming near Lowdermilk Beach in Naples.

Although alligators are commonly associated with freshwater lakes, rivers and canals, they can occasionally enter coastal waters.

Wildlife officials generally advise people to keep their distance from alligators, avoid approaching them for photographs and never attempt to feed them.

The sight of an alligator near a popular beach added another unexpected chapter to the weekend’s wildlife encounters.

A Black Bear Crosses a Busy Road

The weekend’s third unusual sighting involved a black bear filmed crossing Immokalee Road near Interstate 75 on Saturday morning.

Florida black bears are native to the state and sometimes travel through developed areas while searching for food or moving between habitats.

Road crossings can be dangerous for both wildlife and motorists, particularly in areas where residential and commercial development overlaps with natural habitats.

Only in Florida?

A giant snake near a resort, an alligator near swimmers and a bear crossing a major roadway might sound like scenes from three different wildlife documentaries.

In Collier County, however, they were all part of the same weekend.

While the encounters were unusual, they also illustrate a serious environmental reality: Florida’s wildlife continues to share increasingly developed spaces with millions of residents and visitors.

For people enjoying Florida’s outdoors, the message is simple: appreciate wildlife from a safe distance and give animals room to move.

And for anyone wondering whether the Sunshine State still has the power to surprise, this weekend offered three convincing examples.

Source: Gulf Coast News — November 9, 2026