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Three Escaped Alligators in Pittsburgh

Incident Date:
05/29/2019
Location:
Pittsburgh, PA - USA
Facility Name:
Private Residence
Facility Type:
Exotic Pet (E)
Incident Category:
Escape of animal (EA)
Species:
Reptiles
Animal:
Alligator
Animal disposition:
Recaptured

Summary:

The first alligator was found, sunning itself on a trail near the Monongahela River on May 18, the 3-foot reptile was a novelty. The second one, was found by a man walking his dog in the Beechview neighborhood on June 6, seemed like an odd coincidence. That gator, about 5 feet long and hissing with apparent ill humor, was captured with considerable perplexity and exertion by several officers. When a third gator was found two days later—a 2½-footer lounging on a front porch in the Carrick district—the police were astounded.

“This needs to stop,” said Chris Togneri, a police spokesman, citing a threat to children and pets. “We don’t need alligators in Pittsburgh.” The police believe the three recent discoveries were pets that escaped or were let loose.

Action take by Born Free USA:

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