OJdidit wrote:
Unfortunately, people who catch or buy baby alligators as pets find out how expensive they are to feed after while. They then release them to fend for themselves. They can adapt for a while, but will not survive the cold in the northern climates.
A duck hunter shot a 6 footer not too far from here about 30 years ago as he was jump shooting ducks in the Milwaukee River. Probably a former pet which was released by an unhappy former owner.
https://www.wate.com/news/union-county-news/twra-alligator-caught-by-angler-in-norris-lake/