NEW YORK (1010 WINS/ AP) — The old urban legend about alligators living in the sewers of New York City gained some cred Sunday after a 2-foot-long alligator was spotted under a car in Queens.
The alligator was discovered around 3 p.m. on Newtown Avenue and 29th Street in Astoria. Animal Care and Control experts aren’t sure how the alligator got there.
READ MORE: COVID Impact: Jersey City Schools In-Person Learning Back On, But Some Parents Have Concerns About Phased-In ApproachSpokesman Richard Gentles says the alligator would likely go to a licensed rehabilitator or reptile sanctuary.
“He is in pretty good health and just seems to be taking it all in,” Gentles told 1010 WINS. “He’ll be kept in a quiet place so he’s not stressed out.”
He says the agency rescues two to four alligators, crocodiles or caimans in the city every year.
READ MORE: Earth Day: Going Vertical In Newark, Innovative AeroFarms Grows More With LessIn 2006, authorities captured a 15-inch alligator at an apartment complex in Brooklyn. And in 2001, a 2-foot-long caiman was found living in a lake in Central Park.
It is illegal to keep them in New York City homes.
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