Alligators in the Sewers of NYC? Yes!
On June 28th 1932, several alligators were seen in the Bronx River. A dead three foot one was found on the river bank. A barge captain bought in a four foot long one on June 1, 1937. A commuter captured a two foot 'gator in the Brooklyn Museum subway station on June 6th of the same year. In March and June, 1937, both live and dead 'gators were found. 'Gators have been captured in Texas, St. Paul, Minnesota, Atlanta, Georgia, Germany and other odd locations.
On June 18th, 19th and 20th, the Allentown Morning Call wrote articles about alligators being captured in the Little Lehigh River in Lower Macungie, PA which is near where I live. Two 1 ½ and a 4 foot 15 pound 'gators were caught. The two smaller ones were seen nestling together which is not 'gator behavior. They, because of this behavior, had to have been someone's pet. Another Morning Call article, January 13th, reported that a four foot frozen body of a 'gator was found at the Penn Forest Reservoir.
The most plausible theory is that they were escaped or abandoned pets. In the 1930s, pet turtles that were painted were the rage. Animal dealers decided to also sell salamanders, lizards and alligators. Because of rough handling by children, the pet turtles, lizards and salamanders do not have a long life span. The 'gators, due to the nature of the beast, have a longer life span. Newly hatched 'gators were shipped from Florida.
The 'gators grew and grew until they became too big for fish bowls and tanks. Finally, their homes became the bathtubs. 'Gators are not friendly animals. There was a depression at this time and the reptiles have good appetites.
How does one dispose of a two plus foot 'gator?
You can't put it in the trash. Poison was hard to get and was a danger to children and other household animals. Killing it with a knife was repulsive. So, the 'gator was plopped into a manhole and the sewer. Interesting theory and it makes more sense than flushing them down toilets.
Distinguished cryptozoologist Loren Coleman found that between 1843 and 1983, no less than 84 'gators were sighted or captured or found dead. He does not believe that pet escapes account for all of these events. It is caimans, not alligators, that are sold as pets.
The New York Times article reported that three youths, were shoveling snow into a manhole near the Harlem River at sunset when they saw something churning in the water of the sewer. Salvatore Condulucci, 16, was the first to see the reptile. Daylight was fading, but he could see the reptilian alligator form. He yelled to his friends that there was a 'gator in the sewer. Jimmy Mireno, 19, was skeptical. "Gators do not live in the sewers of New York City. He was curious and looked. He was the second one to see the reptile. Frank Lonzo, 18, was the last of the trio to see the 'gator. Soon, a crowd of curious people gathered and watched the thrashing 'gator.
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