Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Well, I went down to see if the gator had been captured at about 8 PM. I got back here at about 1:30 AM. I did not manage to capture him. I went armed with bait, flashlights, and a extendable (up to 9 feet) net for koi.

I talked to some of the locals that were there. Several were more then happy to tell me the story and thier sightings of the animal, and I did bump into someone interested in the story. He was a news affilate for a local station. He was able to update me on where the animal was sighted, and how he had gotten the footage of it. No one really seemed to be makeing a real effort to capture this animal. He, (the news fellow) told me that he had talked to the police, and said that they told him, "if they dont capture the animal by this weekend they said they were going to shoot it". I do hope that is not the case, as it seems rather exreme.

He, and several others said, they believe the animal has been there sience march, (Dunno if there is any truth in this ???) and made claims that it has been eating the parks domestic geese. I tried to assure them that the animal is not a threat to life, and that the giant geese were much to large for a small gator to consume.

I did see the animal, and am sure it is under 3 feet in length.
useing hot dog pieces as bait,(seemed to be working) but the animal would not allow me to get close enough, or let itself be seen to be netted. We came close at one point, when he had charged a floating hot dog, but he spooked and it took us nearly another hour to locate him afterwards. I saw him surface several times, and heard him dive a couple times.

We were able to get about 20 to 25 feet from him, but the pond has so much green gunk, and pond lillys, it was near impossable to get a good view of him, or track him well, At least at night. I would believe hes been there for a few weeks or a month, as he seems verry wary of people, and is using the muck to his advantage. I didnt have time to get there during the day, and kind of figured there would be to many "interested" people to make sneaking up on the animal, and captureing it sucsessfully, impossable.

The police have 2 hooks set up, that were said to have chicken on them. both were empty, with no gator attached. They looked a little to big for the animal to get easaly snagged on to me. I re baited one with a partial hot dog. I figure a hooked gator is better then a shot gator.

I just hope someone who knows how to safetly handle crocodilans gets him out of there, before anything bad happens, to anything, anyone, or the gator. Ill probaly try to get time to go look for him again tomorrow.

Raven -

Hey Raven,I live in the area and would be interested if you would like any assistance...I have a pretty busy schedule,but would be able to go down at night. I did hear though that they have threatened to arrest "adventurers" who are "obstructing the operation"...out of curiosity, did you get the okay, or is that just a rumor to minimize publicity?

Yes, im sure experianced help would be appreciated - They just dont want pesky people out there makeing alot of noise and starting trouble. Im pretty sure the park is being patrolled, and they are serious about not wanting the inexperianced or trouble makers about. I have the ok to go back to the area after I worked with them today.

I was down there again tonight, at about 7:30ish. There was an animal control officer for the city pulling up. After talking to him for a short wile, I was able to start to find the facts of the story. Some police arrived, and also helped clear some things up.

1. They arent going to shoot the animal, and have not planned to, or made any comment that they would. (You can never trust' da news)

2. Apparently, and positively, the animal supposedly already has a good home to go to when captured, and will therefore apparently not end up in the hands of a seller, inadiquate shelter, or anything of that sort.

3. They are putting alot of effort and manpower into capturing this tiny beast, which is almost funny, at least from my point of view.

4. He has apparently been there seince around march, as that's when the reports started, but Im really supprized he managed to pull through the cold weather we had gotten, and I was also supprized nothing has tried to eat him as of yet.

5. From one man, i got the story that, The news fellow I had talked too is apperantly the "rabble rouser", who brought all of this to the "public eye"....as with all things, the truth probably lies somewhere in the middle or something never to truly be understood...

I invited to stay and help, and did so, and we almost had the animal 3 times. The river rescue had brought 2 boats down, to try to get closer to the animal, had nets, and spots out, and at one point came extremely close to captureing him. I was able to get a great look at him, and Id honestly be supprised if hes any more then 24 inches. Hes a tiny thing, which I belive is makeing his capture extremely difficult, because hes very hard to locate. Hes also deffenetly an american ally.

I dove for it at one point, when he was about 6 inches from shore, and grabbed the tail, but the little guy flipped out, and then managed to slip out of my hand and away (I didnt have the net - at another point he surfeced close, but again I didn't have a net avalable. (If any one comes, bring a Good sized net along, as there are a shortage)

None of the crew, or officers, know how, or really want to get near or handle this animal, so more croc people, who know what thier doing, and are skilled, particularly at netting, and secureing, would likely be appreaciated. Im supposed to go down again monday evining to try and help catch the animal, (if all works out) so if anyone was local, and has experiance, you could come give it a shot. Youd want to head down there at around 8 or 9 ish. Explain who you are, and that you know the guy who was there on friday, and you were a member of the online croc forum he belongs too, and he asked you to come, if you get there before me, or have security or police ask you anything.

The best thing we can do is get that animal out of there, and have all of this crazyness over with -

Raven -