Are There Alligators in New York State?

Quick Answer:

• Yes, there are alligators in New York, though they are not a native species.
• Alligators probably came about as a result of people releasing their pet alligator hatchlings into waterways when they grew too large to care for.
• For years, legend had it that alligators infested the sewers of New York City.

When you think about the American ‘gator, you’re most likely to envision the Everglades or the murky swamps of the southeastern United States. However, though few and far between, there have been reports of alligators appearing in less-than-expected areas. This can include inside pools, houses, and even stores. However, are there alligators in New York State?

Keep reading below to learn whether alligators live in New York. The answer might just surprise you!

Are Alligators Native to New York State?

If you’re interested in visiting one of the many swimming spots in New York, then you may be interested in learning more about what you will share the water with. This includes whether an alligator may be lurking just beneath the surface. After all, while the majority of alligators would choose to ignore a human, they can grow up to eight feet in size and pose a threat to humans and small pets alike.

If this is a concern of yours, then you’ll be glad to learn that alligators are not native to New York State. Instead, alligators are native to the American Southeast. They are most common in the coastal regions of southern states, and they are a native species in locations as far north as North Carolina and as far west as Texas. Unlike crocodiles, alligators prefer fresh water. They most often inhabit swamps, marshes, and wetlands but can also be found in rivers and lakes throughout their region. 

But as you may have learned from invasive species, sometimes, through human influence, animals can end up in ecosystems they don’t exactly belong in. This means that, although alligators aren’t native to New York, there is still the question of “Are there alligators in New York State?” 

Are Alligators in New York?

Since 1935, when boys shoveling snow from the streets found an alligator in a sewer, the sewers of New York have garnered a bit of a reputation for being a habitat for alligators. However, while the sewers of the state may not be swimming with these reptiles, there are alligators in New York. In fact, in February of 2023, an alligator appeared in Prospect Park. This shows that, despite not being native to the state, alligators have been making themselves known in New York for nearly a century.

Although several cases of alligators are being reported in New York States, it’s not a common phenomenon. Several years can occur between reports. For New York City in particular, the Prospect Park alligator, named Godzilla, had been the first report since 2019. Between 2018 and 2019, however, in Brooklyn and Staten Island, local organizations reported a total of five cases of alligators in the state.

As a result, while there are alligators in New York State, they are not nearly as widespread here as they are in their native range. But, with nearly 500 miles separating New York State from the northernmost native state for the alligator, there is a question of how these reptiles came to be in the Empire State.

How Alligators Came to Exist in New York

Some of the earliest legends and stories about alligators in New York State revolve around these reptiles existing in the sewers. These urban legends originate from around a century ago, most likely emerging from a true story and later becoming exaggerated. While it is true that the group of boys spotted an alligator while shoveling snow, it’s important to know that an entire sewer-based population of alligators is unlikely. Not only have sewer maintenance crews assured that the underground is clear of ‘gators, but the survival rate for an alligator in the sewer is low. This is due to both temperature and bacteria, as well as a lack of resources in the sewers. 

Instead, to learn about how alligators came to exist in New York, you’ll need to look further south. As early as the mid-20th century, souvenir shops in the southern states would sell alligators for tourists to take home with them. Although young alligators, known as hatchlings, start off small and cute, they can quickly grow to unmanageable sizes. As a result, once tourists returned to their home state of New York and realized just how big their new pet would grow, many would release their alligators into the wild. This continues well into modern times as well, although acquiring an alligator, which is illegal in most cases in New York, excluding for education purposes, has become more difficult. 

This is similar to how pythons came to exist in the Florida Everglades. Popular pets, these snakes slithered their way into this sensitive ecosystem either through intentional or accidental release. 

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