Alligator taken from Brattleboro basement
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By Susan Smallheer Herald Staff - Published: March 9, 2007
BRATTTLEBORO — Vermont Fish and Wildlife officials confiscated a 6-foot-4-inch American alligator Wednesday from his makeshift lair in the basement of a Brattleboro home.
Col. Robert Rooks of the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department said the family that kept the alligator had it for at least seven years. He said the department learned about the alligator through a tip.
Michael Ralbovsky of Rainforest Reptiles of Boston, Mass., helped the state wildlife officials rescue the animal. He said Thursday the alligator was now in a safe location in Massachusetts and its ultimate destination would be either a zoo or park.
Ralbovsky said the alligator could have easily hurt a child or adult. He and two game wardens taped the alligator's mouth shut to move it, he said.
"This animal could have harmed a child, not to mention the people who were taking care of it," Ralbovsky said.
He said the alligator weighed about 125 pounds and was small for its age. He estimated its age at 17 and he said it should have been about 11 feet long.
"They just don't warm up to people. They don't ever become friendly. They don't make good pets," he said.
American alligators can be found as far north as North Carolina and are found in 11 states, particularly Texas. Its reptilian cousin, the crocodile, is only found in the tropics, he said. Alligators have broad noses, while crocodiles have a pointed, more delicate snout, he said.
Ralbovsky, who said he works with fish and wildlife officials or environmental police in 17 different states, said the alligator would not be released back into the wild because it had been fed by humans.
Ralbovsky said the Brattleboro family called the alligator "Al." He also said the alligator was the pet of the man's brother, who had died about 10 years ago and the family kept it in his memory.
He said the family told him they fed the alligator chicken parts they got from the local grocery store. In the summer, they fed the alligator fish they caught locally, he said.
Rooks said the state did not press charges against the Brattleboro couple because once they were contacted by game wardens, they cooperated with officials. He declined to identify the couple.
Ralbovsky said the alligator appeared to be well-nourished and had good muscle tone, but it had scrapes on its neck, apparently from being moved from one house to another. He said the alligator was kept in a wood and Plexiglas enclosure, about 12 by eight feet. He said the alligator did not have a big enough water area, since alligators need to be able to submerge themselves.
Rooks said keeping alligators as pets was not an unusual occurrence.
"We're getting a lot of training in exotics," Rooks, who is in charge of enforcement for the Fish and Wildlife Department.
Rooks said two of the state's wardens helped move the alligator into Ralbovsky's special heated truck.
"We've learned how to deal with everything from monkeys to elephants, alligators, snakes — a lot of exotic animals," Rooks said. "There's a whole slew of critters that are not legal."
Rooks said animals that can be injurious to humans and other animals are banned. Any venomous snake is banned as well, he said.
"People are always trying to buy and trade exotic animals; it's more and more of a problem," Rooks said. He noted that he could recall many instances of Vermont game wardens confiscating alligators.
Rooks said he could recall one instance where some prairie dogs were let loose in Essex Junction, and game wardens had quite a time capturing the creatures. They were carrying monkey disease, he said. "We finally got them all," he said.
Ralbovsky said he only works with law enforcement agencies and never sells the animals. His company also puts on animal shows for schools, he said.
"We rehab the animal, and find him a home in a zoo, or in another education company. It never goes back into the animal trade," he said.
"I don't know what the mentality of these people is. Maybe it's like having a pit bull, I just can't explain the behavior," he said.
Contact Susan Smallheer at susan.smallheer@rutlandherald.com.
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