Where is the Lake Erie alligator? Expert weighs in on gator’s survival chances
It’s been more than six weeks since the initial sighting of the Lake Erie alligator. There have been no confirmed sightings since.
For a better understanding of the whereabouts of the alligator, wildlife pundit Jim Moulton, who goes by the name Bwana Jim, offers his expertise on alligators.
Moulton, from the Rochester, New York area, has made Erie appearances at reptile expos and with his traveling wildlife shows. He has more than 25 years of experience handling animals ranging from armadillos to exotic birds and alligators.
Moulton believes this alligator was someone’s pet let loose into the wild.
“It was definitely someone’s pet and it was a foolish thing to do,” Moulton said. “It’s not the first time that people have been placing gators in ponds or lakes. They escape, they are good escape artists.”
From his experience at wildlife expos, Moulton sees alligators being sold as babies under a foot in length.
When the animals grow into a reptile over six feet in length, they become hard to tame as pets. That is when Moulton says they likely could get released into the wild.
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Following the right tracks
In this file photo, alligator tracks are shown on the beach along the Gulf of Mexico side of St. Vincent Island. The paw prints were about 15-inches long, 18 inches with claws included.
There are a variety of animal tracks visible at Presque Isle, and there is a possibility some may be from the alligator.
Moulton said that alligators have five toes on the front feet and four toes on the back. The last toe on the back foot does not have a nail on it because when swimming alligators will tuck their feet in their sides and use the tail for swimming.
Moulton mentioned that alligators are also good diggers.
“In the south where it’s mostly sand, alligators will dig a cave on the side of the lake and they can dig their way back in there and they will have a chamber in there,” Moulton said. “It can be quite deep, but up here with the ground so hard they can’t dig like that.”
Would an alligator survive this long in Lake Erie?
With fall’s official arrival Sunday, Moulton thinks that due to an alligator’s instinct and ability to catch fish, the animal has a good chance at surviving for awhile.
“He’s living the good life,” Moulton said. “There are plenty of fish in Lake Erie so I’m sure he’s getting all the food he needs.”
Gators don’t always spend time in the water though. They can be found sunbathing to warm up and become feisty and active again.
The animal was first seen at the foot of East Avenue near the boat launch, but Moulton thinks it’s possible it could be at Presque Isle.
“It would go in an area that would involve a lot of grass and water lilies,” Moulton said. “It would look for a place to hide and not be in the open. It would look for something like a pond to get into I think, something like Presque Isle which has a lot of that type of area where it would like to live.”
No one at Presque Isle has confirmed any sightings or signs of the alligator.
Tough chances of survival during winter
Erie Port Authority has now posted gator sighting warnings around the beach area of the foot of East Avenue.
Moulton does not believe the alligator could make it through an Erie winter.
Moulton did confirm that alligators can hibernate, keeping their nostrils above the ice when the water freezes over.
The challenges facing the reptile would be the frigid winter temperatures and the scarcity of food.
If you encounter the alligator
Moulton says that alligators are shy creatures and will most likely run if they come face to face with you.
If this alligator does happen to become aggressive, Moulton suggests bringing a long object like a fishing pole or boat paddle and giving it a pop on the nose.
“They are sensitive on the nose,” Moulton said. “I went to an alligator farm in Florida and we used to have to go down to the swamp and pick up the trash. Once in a while you get a big gator who thinks oh boy here comes lunch. We always took a broomstick with us and a 10-foot alligator if you tapped him on the nose if he was coming after you he would freeze open his mouth and hiss at you but that’s as far as he would go.”
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Timeline of the Lake Erie alligator
Contact Nicholas Sorensen at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Lake Erie alligator still at large. Wildlife expert shares knowledge
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