One alligator killed, but a second gator is still lurking in Ohio river, officials say

Authorities in Ohio are on the lookout for an at-large alligator after a pair was reported loose in the St. Mary’s River, according to state officials.

Officials aren’t sure where the gators came from, but they have been searching for them since an anonymous tip came in to the Ohio Department of Agriculture on May 7, a department spokesperson told McClatchy News in an email.

“ODA has attempted to capture two alligators several times without success,” the department said, adding that “one of the alligators has been killed by local law enforcement.”

The alligator, which was 2 feet long, was shot to death, the Daily Standard reported. The Auglaize County sheriff told the outlet that a wildlife officer with the state Department of Natural Resources pulled the trigger.

The second gator is still out there somewhere, according to the ODA.

“The remaining gator submerged itself under water during initial attempts to capture the animal. They can remain under water and swim away; thus we are relying on local enforcement to report sightings,” the spokesperson said. “Currently, we have not received any new reports of sightings.”

Generally speaking, it’s against the law for the average citizen to own an alligator in Ohio — as well as many other exotic and potentially dangerous animals — unless the animal was already in the owner’s possession prior to June 5, 2012, and they have a permit from the state.

This story was originally published May 23, 2023 at 12:00 PM with the headline "One alligator killed, but a second gator is still lurking in Ohio river, officials say."