By Nicole Hansen
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Summary
- Alligator spotted in Lake Erie, Pennsylvania, was likely an owner release. Officials are taking preventive measures.
- Visitors are requested to avoid interfering with the alligator capture efforts to ensure safety for all.
- Alligators in Northern US states may find survival challenging in winter. Their presence requires caution and immediate reporting.
An alligator has been seen swimming near the shores of Lake Erie in Pennsylvania. The alligator was initially spotted near the East Avenue boat launch yesterday, August 7. Since the initial sighting, several other visitors have reported seeing the reptile swimming around the lake.
Officials are warning visitors not to approach the alligator if they see it, but to contact local authorities. While they do not believe the alligator poses a major threat to guests, the reptile will likely flee if approached, hindering official capture efforts.
Authorities have noticed numerous individuals attempting to spot or even capture an alligator in Lake Erie. A professional team has been called in, with hopes of relocating the animal before cooler weather sets in. They are asking people to stay out of the way of these efforts. While no beaches have been closed around Lake Erie, continued interference by guests could result in beach restrictions for the safety of both the animal and the team.
If You See the Alligator in Lake Erie
- DO NOT approach the Alligator
- Contact local authorities at 814-455-7557, ext. 223
Authorities are hoping to catch the alligator and turn it over to a rehabilitation facility. Given the cool temperatures and the abundance of people around the lake, there are concerns about how long the animal can survive.
Alligators In The Northern US
Alligators have been spotted in Pennsylvania, as well as Michigan and Tennessee
Every year, one or two alligators wind up in the Great Lakes. In addition to the current alligator prowling the Pennsylvania shore, alligators in Michigan have spooked guests on several occasions, including in November 2023. In both of the most recent Alligator Sightings, authorities suspect the animal was an owner's release, the result of the exotic animal trade.
Other Alligators have made their way north through the river systems, fooled by warm water into heading too far north. These alligators generally find themselves in Lake Michigan. Alligators have also taken up residence in Tennessee in recent years, expanding their habitat as water temperatures rise.
Despite concerns among visitors, it is the alligators themselves that are at the greatest risk from this recent expansion. While alligators can manage during the warm summer months, these cold-blooded predators are no match for the winters of the northeast. Even now, authorities have grave concerns about the alligator currently stranded in Lake Erie, given the water's cool temperatures and intense waves.
Most of the time, alligators in these unfamiliar states are not a risk to people, and would rather flee than fight. However, alligator sightings, particularly in unusual areas, should always be reported to local authorities.
US States With Alligators and Alligator Sightings
State | Type of Alligator Sightings |
|---|---|
Louisiana | Native Alligator Habitat, ~2 million resident alligators |
Florida | Native Alligator Habitat, ~1.3 million resident alligators |
Texas | Native Alligator Habitat, ~400,000 resident alligators |
Georgia | Native Alligator Habitat, 200,000-250,000 resident alligators |
South Carolina | Native Alligator Habitat, ~100,000 resident alligators |
Alabama | Native Alligator Habitat, ~70,000 resident alligators |
Mississippi | Native Alligator Habitat, 32,000-38,000 resident alligators |
Arkansas | Native Alligator Habitat, 3,000-5,000 resident alligators |
North Carolina | Native Alligator Habitat, ~3,000 resident alligators |
Oklahoma | Native Alligator Habitat, ~100 resident alligators |
Tennessee | New Alligator Territory, Intermittent singular sightings |
Michigan | Non-Native Territory, Occasional individual sightings |
Pennsylvania | Non-Native Territory, Occasional individual sightings |
While alligators in Northern US states are nothing new, this latest alligator sighting renews the conversation about the warm-water dwellers expanding into other habitats. In these situations, authorities want nothing more than to keep everyone involved, both human and reptile, safe from harm.
Never approach an alligator, and please call local authorities with any information.
