Overview
- Joseph Kenney, a wildlife educator with Joe's Craz-zy Critters, located and captured the roughly foot-long reptile within minutes on Wednesday night.
- Veterinarians at the New England Wildlife Center examined the animal Thursday and reported possible parasites and a respiratory infection linked to the cold water.
- MassWildlife said the alligator is being kept warm under a temporary authorization as the state evaluates a long-term placement with a permitted facility.
- Officials said the origin is under investigation, with the leading theory that it was an escaped or intentionally released pet, which is illegal in Massachusetts.
- The rescue followed multiple verified sightings along the Esplanade and urgency from forecasters’ cold temperatures that threatened the juvenile alligator’s survival.