The incident is sparking questions around the legalities of having reptiles as pets.
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The gator was taken to Springfield’s Forest Park zoo where curator John Lewis said it would remain in an outdoor enclosure for the time being.
A 25-year-old alligator has been moved from a private MA home to a nearby zoo pending an investigation.
Authorities seized a six-foot alligator in a West Springfield backyard Thursday afternoon, reports said.
Officials said that the gator is from Florida and was brought back to West Springfield in a cooler.
His diet included Philly cheese steaks, the TV station reported.
Here in MA, it is illegal to have an alligator as a pet. The only way one is allowed is if the owner has a permit and those are only given to animal rehabilitation or education centers. The Zoo at Forest Park was then called in to help.
Michael Banas said police did not know the identity of the alligator’s owner, or how long it had been living outside the home.
The alligator, named Wally, belongs to Anthony Servel.
“Thelma and Wally, they seem to be hitting it off okay”. Wally reportedly lived there for 26 years.
‘He’s making friends with Thelma back there, so as of right now, we have no issues’.
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“We built a pond for him, an entrance way for him to get in and out of the shelter, he’s caged in where he is never going to be able to get loose”, Mirolli said.
