Here’s something that might make you think twice about wading in Long Island’s Peconic River: Last Friday, NYS Environmental Conservation Lieutenant Dallas Bengel and Officer Mark Simmons captured four juvenile alligators where the river borders Brookhaven and Riverhead. The gators were found after a tip was received on the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s tip line (1-800-TIPP DEC / 1-800-847-7332.)
"Alligators released into Long Island waters have become an all too common occurrence in recent years,” said Regional Director Peter A. Scully in a DEC press release issued after the gators were captured. “Unfortunately, individuals who attain these animals often find themselves incapable of caring for them as they grow, and they ultimately release them into the waters of Long Island where they are unable to survive and may pose a risk to recreationalists. We hope people will take advantage of the upcoming illegal reptile and amphibian amnesty day and these types of occurrences will decrease in the future.”
According to the DEC, at approximately 8 a.m. on Friday, April 19, Frank Naase was partaking in his typical routine of a morning coffee and a visit to DEC’s Connecticut Ave. canoe launch overlooking the Peconic River when he noticed an unusual animal floating by the launching dock. Mr. Naase quickly contacted DEC Environmental Conservation Officer (ECO) dispatch to inform officers of the alligator he had spotted prompting Lt. Bengel and ECO Simmons to respond to the call.
%pullstart%Alligators are illegal to own as pets in New York State, and individuals wishing to use them for exhibition, research or educational purposes require a DEC permit.%pullend%After catching an approximately two-foot alligator with a catch pole, they observed three more alligators in the water. The officers quickly collected and secured each of the animals with tape around their jaws. The alligators, whose sizes range from two to three feet, were lethargic due to the cold water to which they had been exposed. They were transferred to DEC’s Regional Headquarters in Stony Brook and will ultimately be received by the Long Island Aquarium in Riverhead.
Alligators are illegal to own as pets in New York State, and individuals wishing to use them for exhibition, research or educational purposes require a DEC permit.
If you have an alligator you would like to relinquish – or any other illegal or unpermitted reptiles or amphibians – you’ll want to mark down April 27 on your calendar. That’s because the DEC has partnered with the Suffolk County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to allow for a one-time only amnesty program where individuals can anonymously bring their illegal or unpermitted reptiles and amphibians without fear of prosecution. The program will take place at Sweetbriar Nature Center, 62 Eckernkamp Drive, Smithtown, NY on Saturday, April 27, 2013 from 12 – 4 p.m. Species that do not require permits, or are not threatened or endangered will not be accepted.
For more information about the amnesty program, contact:
Suffolk County SPCA: (631) 382-7722, the DEC at 631-444-0250 or the United States Fish and Wildlife Service at 516 825-3950.