Posted on 06/10/2024 6:18:18 AM PDT by Red Badger
Two friends in Wisconsin couldn't believe their eyes when they saw an alligator in their front yard, only a 10 minute drive over the state line from Dubuque.
HAZEL GREEN, Wisconsin (KWWL) -- Two friends in Wisconsin couldn't believe their eyes when they saw an alligator in their front yard, only a 10 minute drive over the state line from Dubuque.
It was a scene that most people think they would only see in Florida. Instead, Sara Wagner and her friend Suzanne came across an alligator in the front yard of a Wisconsin neighborhood.
At first they thought it was a squirrel, but upon closer inspection, they realized it was a young American Alligator, which was confirmed by experts at the National Mississippi River Museum.
Mark Beshel, Curator of Freshwater Fish and Herpetology at the National Mississippi River Museum, explained more to KWWL.
Beshel said, "So depending on whether it was a male or female, a male American Alligator can reach lengths of over 12 feet long and well over 600 pounds."
He explained that these alligators continue to grow throughout their entire lives and can live up to 70 years. The current female Alligator at the river museum is in her 50s.
Only measuring about 2.5 feet and likely not fully grown yet, the sight still surprised Wagner and her husband, and left them wondering how it got there.
After Wagner's husband John safely captured it in a cat cage, neighbors called the Wisconsin DNR to come pick it up.
She told KWWL, "We were both in disbelief, um, just looked down, and, it's like oh boy, called the men folk and said you gotta come check this out."
It was not something the DNR officer was expecting either, as this was the first alligator call he has ever experienced. Their hope for the alligator is to give it a proper chance at life and hopefully get it back to the natural habitat in the state it belongs in.
Malachi Schmitz, the Conservation Warden with the Wisconsin DNR, told KWWL, "My guess is that it is someone's pet that they either let go because they couldn't take care of it anymore, or, it got out at some point, but, we do think it was someone's pet because there are no current wild alligator populations in the state of Wisconsin or anywhere near Wisconsin."
While it's still a mystery as to how the little guy got there, the Wisconsin DNR worked diligently and found a place that can properly handle the alligator's needs.
Where’s Amos Moses?
Louisiana..............
He didn’t have a visa....................
Or Poke Salad Annie?
Had my first live gator sighting last evening. He was about 4 or 5 feet long, but pulled right into our kayak launch spot. Now I’m not too keen on kayaking on this trip. Expect to go hiking or biking today instead.
Look out for Pythons and Panthers....................
Shucks - this ain’t nothing.
In the ‘60’s a frat brother and I “borrowed” a 6’ 200lb. alligator from a small zoo in northern Indiana for a prank that didn’t work out. A 2nd prank didn’t work either so we let Alberta go in a pond in the woods.
What we didn’t know was a creek went from that pond to the largest lake in Indiana and Alberta took it to the lake, freaking out summer residents who called for whoever put the alligator in the lake to get the electric chair.
Alberta was eventually caught as were her kidnappers, labelled as “Gator Nappers” by Indiana newspapers.
Facing $6,000 in fines and 6 years in jail, the Lord showed us mercy with a $35 misdemeanor fine after a tongue-lashing by the judge that made us think we were getting life.
Great story, and a reminder of the way judges and cops used to be.
“After Wagner’s husband John safely captured it in a cat cage, neighbors called the Wisconsin DNR to come pick it up.”
They’ll just tag it and release it...hopefully into one of the Madistan lakes, LOL!
“She told KWWL, ‘We were both in disbelief, um, just looked down, and, it’s like oh boy, called the men folk and said you gotta come check this out.’”
She must be an Illinois Transplant. We don’t talk like that, LOL!
And it’s: “On, Wisconsin!” :)
Well, I’ve never been to Heaven
But I’ve been to Oklahoma
Gators and crocs will bot roam as far as is necessary to find sufficient food sources, even salt water is no object................
LOL...great story, Arlis. Ah, youth!
I’m sure there will be something out there!
THAT is a special level of CRAZY
Mosquitoes, Fire Ants, Wasps, Yellow Jackets and Cow-Killer Velvet Ants, just to name a few..............
Yep. Remind me why I’m visiting here? Oh yeah, to find “Old Florida”. Well, and to visit family, which is the real reason.
We had a family reunion of sorts at the old homestead, and it was just like it used to be. Siblings, kids, and grandkids, great food and conversation. The three generations in heaven were watching from above, and I know they gave their abundant approval of what they saw. It was incredibly fun!
It’s good to be back if just for a few days.
It’s ‘home’........................
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