Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have to transport a 6-7 foot American alligator down south, about 14 hours drive. What's the cheapest, easiest way to secure him for the 14 hours, keeping him wet and contained? I'll have him in the back of a pick up.

In the heat of this season, if he is in a pickup truck bed for 14 hours it will most likely kill him. He may not die upon arrival, but it will ultimtely due to the stress on his body. Such a condition does not allow adequate thermoregulation.

If the alligator's in a covered pickup truck bed with good ventilation, he would be okay.

Keep his mouth taped with electrical or duct tape (don't cover his nostrils, of course), preferably also tape his (closed) eyes. You may also immobilize it by gently lift the rear legs and securing them to the upper side of the alligator's body by wrapping electrical/duct tape around the body at that section. DO NOT pull the legs all the way up and over the animal's body, as it will hurt and possibly injure it.

Why do you want to keep the alligator wet?

This is not necessary if he is in a covered truck bed with ventilation. In an OPEN bed, unless you have someone sitting in the bed with it pouring somewhat cooled water over the alligator for most of those 14 hours, I strongly advise you to refrain from tranpsorting him in the truck bed. It would be risky and cruel.

The best transport vehicle is an SUV or van, as you may control the animal's climate for his well-being.
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Israel Dupont
Winter Haven, FL

I'd love to have a nice RV, with climate control and a cushy spot in the corner for him, but all I have is a pick up, so there are no other options. Plus I only have this window of opportunity, so I have to go next Friday. I do not plan on tossing him in the back, unprotected, to be tossed around in the heat. I should have been more specific. I know they don't make Rubbermaids that size, at least not one I can find. I want to place him in a protected container, like a Rubbermaid or a large PCV pipe with caps on the end, so I can have a little water and a cover over the top to protect him from the sun and gazers. In an enclosure like I described, I do not plan on restricting him or taping his mouth shut, since he should be no threat to anyone. I was wondering if anyone had any ideas for a cheap enclosure and suggestions that I may be over looking? Last resort, I will place him in the plastic pond I have, secureed on top so he can't escape, covered with a tarp to protect him from the sun, and some water that would splash around. The pond would be secured tot he bed, and not able to move around.

Thanks...

If you use a plastic container such as that, it will only build up alot of heat inside. The animal will have no other way to stay cooler, and that is WITH water inside. If water is placed inside, it will quickly warm up to the same temperature as the air making thermoregulation impossible. When transporting crocodilians keeping them a bit more on the cool side is always better than keeping them too warm. The PBT of American Alligators are is about 88 degrees. My recommendation would be to try to keep him around 75 degrees during the trip. That would help prevent getting TOO cool, but at the same time prevent him from over heating. I would make sure that you haven't fed him though before this process and try to make sure that his stomach is as empty as possible so that he is not undergoing a digestion process that can be complicated by the drop of temperature.

The only thing that I could possibly think of, would be to construct a wooden box with LOTS of ventilation and make sure that you properly restrain the animal according to the instruction provided by Izzy. You can cover the back with a tarp like you mentioned, but you doNOT want anything to prevent air flow as you will allow stagnant heat to set into the area and then once again you will be facing the same issue.

HOpe this helps in some way,

Chris

>>I'd love to have a nice RV, with climate control and a cushy spot in the corner for him, but all I have is a pick up, so there are no other options. Plus I only have this window of opportunity, so I have to go next Friday. I do not plan on tossing him in the back, unprotected, to be tossed around in the heat. I should have been more specific. I know they don't make Rubbermaids that size, at least not one I can find. I want to place him in a protected container, like a Rubbermaid or a large PCV pipe with caps on the end, so I can have a little water and a cover over the top to protect him from the sun and gazers. In an enclosure like I described, I do not plan on restricting him or taping his mouth shut, since he should be no threat to anyone. I was wondering if anyone had any ideas for a cheap enclosure and suggestions that I may be over looking? Last resort, I will place him in the plastic pond I have, secureed on top so he can't escape, covered with a tarp to protect him from the sun, and some water that would splash around. The pond would be secured tot he bed, and not able to move around.
>>
>>Thanks...
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U.A.P.P.E.A.L.
Uniting A Proactive Primate and Exotic Animal League
www.uappeal.org

Instead of taping his eyes shut for 14 hours? try taking a tee shirt and wrap that gently around his eyes and knot it, blind fold him but not to tight, this helps keep the animal calm.

next for my opinion, transport him in a wooden crate with PLENTY of ventilation, wooden crate keeps him restrained nicley, hes not going to break out of that, and since you are traveling 14 hours im assuming most of your travels are on highways, good ventilation on a highway = nice breezes

next I wouldnt tape his front of rear legs, thats just going to stress him out, ull take a turn and he will be shifted leaning on one side and not be able to do anything about it? let him have his legs free.

another thing about the crate.... keep the sides snugg to him, they dont need to be touching his sides but again u go to take a turn and he gets slid from side to side, 14 hours = plenty of turns and plenty of occurances to piss him off. you want a nice long slender rectangled crate.

one more thing, put him in head first, you dont want to get there and open the crate to the most pissed off mood this gator has ever been in and try and take him out head first