(5-24-23) According to the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) a small alligator is still missing and another was killed by local law enforcement. after the pair were reported in Auglaize County.

Pair of alligators spotted in Auglaize County

WDTNTV – You Tube Video

The alligators were reported May 7th and the ODA has tried to capture the alligators several times without success.

The second one, described as about two feet long, went underwater during attempts to capture it and swam away. The ODA hasn’t received any reports of the second alligator.

It is legal to own alligators in Ohio with a valid Wildlife Shelter Permit from the ODA,

ODA Chief of Communications Meghan Harshbarger

“They can remain under water and swim away; thus we are relying on local enforcement to report sightings.”

“Both illegal ownership and knowingly releasing dangerous wild animals are subject to criminal and civil penalties under Ohio Revised Code 935.”

About Alligators

American alligators can be found in the coastal wetlands of the U.S. Southeast, as far north as North Carolina and as far west as eastern Texas. Their range extends down to southern Florida and includes the Everglades. These reptiles are usually found in slow-moving freshwater rivers, but also inhabit swamps, marshes, and lakes.

American alligators are carnivores. They eat fish, invertebrates, frogs, birds, and mammals. They use their sharp teeth to capture prey, and their strong jaws are powerful enough to crack a turtle’s shell.

American alligators hunt predominantly at night. If large prey is captured, they drag it underwater, where it is drowned and devoured. Additionally, American alligators have an adaptation in throat called a glottis. This allows them to capture prey completely submerged in water.

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