A couple hears a strange scratching noise: When they look outside, panic breaks out

Livingston Parish (USA) - A cozy evening ended for Bobby and Susan McKenzie in a moment of animal shock: When the couple wondered about suspicious noises on Wednesday evening, they had no idea that they were about to come face to face with a gigantic intruder.

Fences and mosquito nets were supposed to protect the house on the water in the US state of Louisiana. That worked until that night.

When Bobby heard a scratching noise, he couldn't believe his eyes: a huge, almost three-metre-long alligator had made itself comfortable on the veranda.

"I walked to the edge of the porch and could see the alligator's tail. I ran back into the house and saw it from the window," Bobby told local radio station WAFB.

While Susan panicked, he grabbed his cell phone and alerted the police . He also asked a friend who breeds alligators for help.

"It was pure chaos. Every chair was knocked over," Susan recalled. Eventually, they managed to tie up the unexpected guest with practiced maneuvers and bring him safely back to the nearby river, as a video posted by the police on Facebook shows.

The McKenzies now want to repair the damaged veranda, but don't want to change much else. At least now they will always look out of the window first before going outside.