Alligators as Pets

What do you think of adopting an alligator as a pet?

Decades ago, souvenir shops sold baby gators in aquariums to tourists.

Can you guess how most of those situations turned out?

In some cases, families returned to their homes in other states, allowing little Johnny and Julie to keep their reptiles—until Al and Alice outgrew their glass houses! At that point, many young gators were bid farewell. Unfortunately, they were often transported to the sewer.

Although urban legends tell of fully grown alligators living off varmints and colonizing in the underbellies of northern cities, the possibility of that being true is slim. Freezing temperatures in winter and foreign bacteria would create a hostile environment which prevented the cold-blooded beasts from thriving into adulthood. Nonetheless, folklore from the last century includes accounts of gators spotted by sewer workers in places like Pittsburgh and New York. Who knows? In 2010, a two-foot baby was indeed rescued from the sewer in Queens!

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That said, an online search for “pet alligator” delivers all kinds of articles—from heartwarming to horrific—about bonds forged ... and broken ... between humans and their personal swamp critters. Not surprisingly, a good number of posts serve as warnings: if you’re wondering whether an alligator would make a good pet, you have no business procuring one!

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Cautionary words are prudent, especially when we review basic gator traits:

1.???? Alligators are ambush predators. In other words, instead of tracking down their prey, they quietly wait for their victims to get close before attacking.

2.???? Alligators are apex predators, meaning they have the speed, power, and inclination to snatch and grab animals of all sizes. At times, they will go after humans who are bigger than they are.

3.???? Alligators have an overbite that conceals their lower teeth when their jaws are closed. Consequently, the full extent of the damage they could do remains hidden until they open their mouths.

4.???? Alligators have small brains compared to their bodies, indicating they are driven by their survival instincts, not emotional attachments. A pet might seem docile, friendly, and loyal, but any perceived threat could obliterate those attributes.

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Do you notice similarities between gator characteristics and any humans you’ve encountered?

Have you interacted with such individuals in person or online?

If so, what kind of information did you feed them?

Were you (or are you) prepared for all the ways in which they could turn around and bite you?

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If you’re an alligator whisperer or wrangler, my hat’s off to you! If not, I’d take a giant step back to consider the benefits of engagement (winning an argument, honing your communication skills, entertaining your followers, etc.) vs. the risks (personal and/or professional damage).

It's common for people to interact with “alligators,” in some ways keeping them as “pets,” both for business and pleasure. I suggest exercising caution.

Also, remember that you don’t have to involve yourself directly with cunning, destructive people. Instead, why not observe them from a distance, gather what you need to know, and then live accordingly?

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In case you’re wondering, would I ever consider having a pet alligator?

Not on your life!

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Sallie W. Boyles, a.k.a. Write Lady

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