Alligators Spotted in Pennsylvania River Where They Are Not Native; Reptiles Lost or Released by Pet Owners?

Alligators have been spotted in Pennsylvania Rivers, and the locals have mixed reactions. The presence of the reptiles in the area has raised eyebrows because they aren't native there.

Alligators in Pennsylvania River

Over the past few months, the top predator has been swimming in the Kiskiminetas River near Apollo.

Authorities searched for an alligator that had entered the region for a week in August. Two kayakers who saw the 4-foot-long alligator and reported it to the local authorities, and the latter nicknamed it "Chomper." The alligator was captured and taken to Nate's Reptile Rehabilitation.

A second alligator has just been seen swimming in the river. Six kayakers had been on the same section of water when they discovered the reptile.

One of the kayakers, Joshua Kelley, said that after becoming enthusiastic, they went around to obtain better shots of it. They initially thought it was a muskrat before realizing it was an alligator.

They attempted to reach the stranded reptile but failed. Kelley informed the local police about the event after returning to land.

The alligator was spotted by Shelby Mitchell, Kelley's fiancée, who was also kayaking. According to Mitchell, she felt horrible for the sad animal. She speculated that someone released their poor pets into the river.

Alligators prefer freshwater rivers for their habitat. They are indigenous to several states, including Florida, Louisiana, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, the Carolinas, Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. However, they are not native to Pennsylvania.

Depending on the available food supplies and the river's characteristics, it is uncertain whether alligators will be able to flourish in this region of the United States. Although it is unknown how the alligators arrived, Chomper was probably deliberately thrown into the river. The other alligators most likely share the same fate.

Alligators are kept as pets by certain people. However, they can be challenging to maintain because they require a lot of room and can become violent when startled.

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Stolen Alligator From Texas Raised as Pet Returned to Zoo

Earlier this year, a woman admitted stealing a gator egg when volunteering at the Animal World & Snake Farm Zoo. She raised the beast as her pet for over 20 years. However, she lacked the proper permit to raise one. In March, her pet gator was confiscated and moved to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Animal World, and Snake Farm Zoo.

According to game warden Joann Garza, the alligator was "very friendly" with the woman who had taken care of it for more than two decades. The woman reportedly took the incident a little rough but must abide by all state laws and guidelines.

If alligators are needed for farming, education, or zoological purposes, Texas residents are permitted to retain them. Otherwise, they couldn't keep the reptile. The woman was subjected to fines and fees of up to $1,000 for illegally holding the alligator.

Jarrod Forthman, the zoo's director, said the woman, who was never named, was welcome to visit the gator as often as she wanted. They acknowledged that she did a good job raising the animal because it was nice and healthy.