Kayaker hunts down alligator in Mass. river, saving its life
An alligator that was first spotted in August swimming in the Westfield River in Massachusetts—an environment not suitable for alligators—was finally captured Tuesday by a courageous kayaker whose idol was the late Steve Irwin, known as the Crocodile Hunter.
An initial search for the reptile four months ago when it was first seen swimming near the Morgan Sullivan Bridge was unsuccessful, as were efforts when it was spotted again in early October, according to WWLP.
On Monday, a viewer sent to WWLP a video of the gator swimming near the Big E fairgrounds, sparking another search.
“Several kayakers were inspired to try to locate and capture the animal but were unsuccessful,” MassWildlife stated, according to WWLP. “On Tuesday, one persistent kayaker found and captured the reptile, and subsequently contacted state wildlife officials.”
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It was Jeremy White, 26, who located the small gator and pulled it into his kayak. He used duct tape to close its mouth and cover its eyes.
“It was just freezing cold; its eyes were closed,” White told WWLP. “ didn’t really put up too much of a fight. It’s a little surreal, I guess.”
The alligator was taken to West Springfield Animal Control, which found a home for it with the Rainforest Reptile Shows, an organization that travels the area teaching kids about these creatures.
“We are grateful for Jeremy’s efforts, as this 4-foot, cold-blooded reptile would not have survived the cold Massachusetts winter,” the Mass. Division of Fisheries and Wildlife stated on Facebook.
“It is believed the alligator was kept illegally as a pet, and was intentionally released or escaped…Remember, there are strict laws in place for keeping wildlife as pets in Massachusetts. This helps protect both people and animals from harm.”
Photos courtesy of the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife.