Alligator found in Allentown, PA

[Megan]

Thought this was very sad..but interesting. I'm sure it was someones "pet" and another reason why us reptile owners are getting closer and closer to seriously loosing our rights to own reptiles...It was about 40 minutes away from me--PA gets COLD in the winter, and this guy would have died.

Allentown police and animal control officers captured a 5 1/2 - to 6- foot-long alligator that had been sunning itself on a bank of the Jordan Creek in Allentown.

The alligator, which suffered two minor lacerations during the capture, will be taken to a reptile farm by reptile enthusiast Gary Lee of Emmaus.

No one was injured during the capture. Allentown Police Captain Stephen Mould said police were called by a passerby who saw the alligator on a bank of the creek inside Jordan Park at 12:30 p.m.

The gator appears to be 10 to 15 years old, Lee said. It could have grown to be about 14 feet long, he said. It appeared docile and possibly did not pose a threat to anyone, Lee said.

Mould said one officer stood ready with a shotgun, but essentially officers used tactics they've seen on Discovery Channel.

"In 20 years with the department, I thought I saw it all," Mould said. "Until today."

http://www.mcall.com/news/all-allentown-alligater-0909cn,0,1965122.story

 

[nicky]

That's crazy! Wait until I tell me husband about this! He thinks that I'm nuts because I won't swim in lakes or ponds because I always say "There could be something in there that'll eat me!" LOL. We live in upstate NY. But, there really could be something that's waiting in the water! LOL. I'm glad they caught the poor thing. That's horrible. I'm sure that he would have died once winter hit. I wonder where in the world the owners were keeping him? That's pretty big. Where would you keep him for 10-15years? That's crazy!

 

[InkedupTara]

Awe, that is not that far from me either. Poor thing! I hope the "farm" will take care of him, or will they turn him into a purse? I dont know what an alligator farm is

I wish people would use their heads when they get things, I mean come on, what did they think, it would stay small???

 

[Siren]

If a reptile enthusiast is taking him to a reptile farm, I would assume its a zoo.

There are some alligator farms that farm the animals for skins. They usually also farm them for meat. Gator tail is especially popular in the Southern states. There are a lot of Florida restaurants down here that have gator on the menu. I've never tried it and don't plan to.

There are also "farms" that are zoological parks. Alligator Farm in St. Augustine is only 30 minutes from me and the place is awesome. Though I tend to believe, they do sell many gators to farms for meat. Alligator Farm has an excellent breeding program. They breed 100s of them. And yet, they never seem to be overcrowded when it comes to the adult American alligators. And American Alligators are a dime a dozen, so its not like they are big draws for zoos to get. So I assume many are sold for meat market.

And unfortunately, some people do believe they will stay small. I tell people all the time to buy books, read websites about the new pet they think about getting. Be a dog or a boa constrictor. You have pet stores who are telling people, "They won't grow bigger than their tank" or "They are bred with the pygmy caimen so they won't get bigger than 3ft". And if the buyer isn't researching it and buying it on impulse, the next thing they know, its outgrown the tank and then the bathroom, and then the garage and now they got no place for it, so they just release it thinking it will make its way in the world. They don't understand that it will die in the winter. And even if they adapted and lived...all you need is a few people to release their pets into the wild, they breed, and the next thing you know, you have an unnatural pest who is destroying native wildlife and ecosystems.

Here in Florida that is going on with iguanas, monitor lizards and large snakes. The snakes have been such a problem, they are eating our gators. The iguanas are destroying native plant life and gardens. The monitor lizards and snakes are killing other wildlife and even pets.

I am a reptile owner. I support laws that control the sales and ownership of large snakes and lizards. We have a new law that says they all must be microchipped, the microchip identifies the owners. They have now made it lawful to actively hunt pythons in Florida. So when any of these snakes are found and/or killed and scanned, the microchip will lead them back to the owner who could be charged with a crime and fined. I have a lot of friends who own large snakes, and they don't have problems. They have their permits, they have them mircrochipped, they are in secure tanks and habitats. They love their snake like we love our chins and hedgies. They would never release them into the wild. And they are going to be the ones who suffer the most because of the irrespondsible snake owners.

 

[Megan]

Reguarding the microchipping of reptiles- is it EVERYTHING, or certian species? I actually do like that idea, however I know many people keep smaller species-- Geckos, Anoles, etc. Is it just for the larger species? Can you really micrchip such a small animal?

 

[Siren]

You can microchip a lot of animals. The device is about the size of a grain of rice. It costs about $35. I would think you could microchip a rat and up. I know of bearded dragons, ferrets, dogs, cats, horses, large snakes, and various exotics who are microchipped. Generally its a way for owners to reclaim their lost pet. Unlike tags that can be lose or thrown away and tattoos that you need to have the animal under anesthetic to give and tattoo databases are far from fool proof...microchips are the best way to identify the animal as yours. The needle is thick and is painful. But its very quick and very safe. Its rare for an animal to bleed much after. My dogs and cats are all chipped and they did just fine. If you are getting an animal put under for surgery, its best to do it then, no pain, but it can be done without it. I see no problem with chipping animals like chinchillas or hedgehogs. But of course, make sure its a vet who understand the biology and physiology of those animals.

Florida law mandates all Burmese pythons, anacondas, reticulated pythons, and nile monitor lizards must be microchipped.

Other uses for the chip I have seen is by very protective breeders. Some breeders have chipped the animals and have it registered to them. If the animal is picked up as a stray, it goes back to the breeder. Its within their contract with the buyer that it is the discretion of the breeder to return the animal. The breeders doing this aren't doing it to be mean and most of them let the animal go back to its owners the first time. But if they get the animal and its obvious its been neglected or abused or its repeatably escaped, then the breeder, per the contract, will keep and readopt the animal out.

 

[Megan]

I have one of my dogs microchipped (had it done when he went in for his neuter). The greyhound has her ears tattooed, and its recorded in all her paperwork(not even sure if it was widely known at the time when we got her). Love the idea..but what scares me is I wonder how many shelters actually scan them? I don't even know that our local shelter has anything to scan the chips! But I guess thats what happens when you live in a somewhat "sheltered" area.

Although I've heard of ferrets/rabbits being chipped, I honestly never even thought of the smaller reptiles being done (geckos etc)

 

[Siren]

A vast majority of Humane Societies, ASPCAs, SPCAs, etc, have the scanners. But not all microchips and scanners are created equal. I know there was a chip a few years ago that wasn't universal with most scanners. I think for the most part those ones did die out. A majority of chips and scanners are universal, regardless of the company who manufactured them. I know my little county's Humane Society has a scanner. City pounds may not have them though. Best bet is to call you local shelter(s), ask them if they have a scanner and ask them which is the best microchip to get that is easily scanned by their scanner. Afterall, if you lose your pet, it most likely will be lost in your area. So best to know what scanners and chips are best.

 

[ABBY W.]

I have eaten alligator. GUess what! It tastes a lot like chicken!
What a weird situation. I wonder why someone would release him when they had to know he wouldn't survive the winter. Not to mention the danger to the public!

 

[Siren]

Because they just don't care.

 

[AZChins]

I'm so glad that they found this guy. Poor thing. PA is not alligator country! That was such a strange story.

 

[Jeanette]

I saw a bumper sticker today that said "Will criminals register their guns?"
It's the same situation. The irresponsible people will buy their reptiles from backyard breeders and not get them microchipped and then 'set them free'. If they aren't responsible in the first place, odds are they won't get them microchipped.

I have a ball python and I can't imagine just letting him go. (We love him so!!)