Wayward Alligator Recovers at Oregon Coast Aquarium

An American alligator found on a gravel road in Florence (Oregon) is recovering at the Oregon Coast Aquarium from his wayward trip. The young, three-foot alligator was most likely a pet that escaped or was abandoned. It was found on a gravel drive and brought to the Aquarium, where it is being observed and fed. Efforts are underway to locate a zoo as a permanent home for it.

NEWPORT, Ore -- Following the recent success of two wild bird rehabilitations, the Oregon Coast Aquarium took delivery today of an aquatic animal that was slightly off-course and found by two neighbors in Florence, Oregon. Randy Blacklock delivered a young American alligator to the Aquarium that his neighbor, Leonard Van Curler, found lying listless on the gravel road between their homes.

According to Jim Burke, Oregon Coast Aquarium assistant curator of fishes and invertebrates, the three-foot alligator appears to be in good health, with clear eyes and no visible wounds. "It was probably a bit dehydrated and hungry when found," he noted. "The folks who found it did the right thing by getting it into some water and contacting local authorities."

The alligator -- probably between one and two years old -- will be kept in a holding pool with warm water as a guest of the Aquarium until another zoo or animal facility is contacted to take it. Alligator chow and fish are being fed to the wayward alligator, which is the same feed used for the baby American alligators on display with the Aquarium's "Enchanted Seas" exhibit.

Blacklock noted that the alligator had apparently crawled out of nearby salal brush and was found only half a block from Harbor Vista Park and just off a fairly major road (Rhododendron Drive) in Florence. Burke added the alligator was most likely a pet that either escaped or was abandoned and, when found, was probably trying to locate a pond or lake when it became dehydrated.

Well known as the rehabilitation site of Keiko the killer whale, the Aquarium has rehabilitated and released (when possible) injured seabirds, endangered fur seals, harbor seal pups, tropical sea turtles and other marine animals as facilities allow.

The Oregon Coast Aquarium is accredited by the American Zoo & Aquarium Association, assuring the highest standards of animal care and husbandry. Its award-winning husbandry program includes honors and recognition for successes in bird breeding, jelly rearing, advances in solving fish-eye disease and animal rehabilitation efforts.

Located just south of Newport, the Oregon Coast Aquarium is named one of the top 10 aquariums in the nation by Parade magazine.

Experience the magic of "Enchanted Seas" while taking a journey into the mystical world of seahorses, sea dragons and other magical sea creatures worth protecting. This bright new exhibit features painted murals by artist Michael Cole and displays a collection of ocean gems featuring seahorses hanging onto seagrass with their prehensile tails; a rainbow of tropical reef fishes flitting among the coral; sea dragons trailing frilly appendages; cuttlefish hovering like blimps; and children enjoying gaze-to-'gator vision of baby American alligators in a crawl-through tank. Visitors who crave a bit of the familiar will still find sea nettles, moon jellies and other jewels of the sea included with "Enchanted Seas."

For additional information about the Oregon Coast Aquarium, surf www.aquarium.org or call 541-867-FISH.

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Downloadable digital images of wayward alligator:

http://www.aquarium.org/press/pictures/RehabAnimalsPictures/WaywardAlligator/WaywardAmericanAlligator02TakenByAllenBlevins.jpg