Are There Alligators in Ohio?

In May of 2023, onlookers spotted two alligators near the St. Marys River in Auglaize County, Ohio. The Ohio Department of Agriculture tried to capture them but failed. One of the pair was shot and killed, but the other was still at large as of the following June.

In October 2015, a juvenile alligator found along the Ohio River was taken in by the Cincinnati Zoo.

In 2007, boaters found a dead 4-foot alligator lying dead near a riverside boat dock.

Should we start calling Ohio the Everglades of the North? Why are there alligators in Ohio?

Gators in the Buckeye State

Alligators are not lizards. They’re a reptile species belonging to the crocodilia order, along with crocodiles and gharials. Only two species of alligators exist. The Chinese alligator, Alligator sinensis is found in the Yangtze River region of China. And the American alligator, Alligator mississippiensis, is a North American resident. Alligators live in and near freshwater, typically in marshes and swamps, but can also be found in rivers and lakes. So it makes sense that any alligators in Ohio would be found near a river or other body of water.

Does that mean there’s a population of wild alligators living in Ohio? In a word…no. As reptiles, alligators are “cold-blooded,” exothermic in scientific terms. This means they can’t maintain their body temperature without some external heat source, like warm air or direct sunlight. Alligators are active at temperatures between 82 and 92 degrees F, and stop feeding in temperatures below 70 degrees F or so. Alligators in the wild could not survive the cold temperatures of the Ohio fall and winter.

Meet the American Alligator

America’s native alligators are found in the southeastern area of the country, primarily Louisiana (home to 2 million gators) and Florida (with 1.3 alligators). Texas, Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama, and Mississippi also have sizeable alligator populations, and smaller groups live in Arkansas, North Carolina, and Oklahoma. The American alligator was once an endangered species, thanks to hunting and habitat loss. But legal protections have allowed these reptiles to rebound and thrive. Should you see one, know that you’re looking at an ancient lineage. Alligators and their crocodilian relatives evolved from a common ancestor with dinosaurs, and they’re the survivors of a reptile group that first appeared 235 million years ago.

Okay, But What About Those Ohio Gators?

The occasional appearance of alligators in the Ohio River or elsewhere in the state isn’t a sign of an alligator populace. Rather, as the media reports pretty much every time it happens, it’s likely the consequence of humans reconsidering their choice to keep an alligator as a pet. Young alligators can grow as fast as 12 inches per year. The growth rate is slower in adults, but these reptiles can reach 9-13 feet when fully grown. Exotic pet lovers who take in a cute (err…in its way) little alligator baby may have second thoughts as the reptile matures. And unfortunately, letting the creature loose to try and survive on its own may seem like the solution.

In some cases, the escape of a pet alligator may go unreported because, under Ohio law, most people aren’t allowed to keep these reptiles as pets. In 2012, the state passed a law regulating the possession of dangerous wild animals, alligators included. Except for those owned prior to the law, owning or selling these animals is prohibited. (Zoos, researcher centers, shelters, and similar facilities are exempt). Other animals you can’t own in Ohio include hyenas, elephants, hippos, and rhinoceroses. So if you’re living in Ohio you might as well stop working on that rhino enclosure you’ve been building.

Should I be Afraid of Alligators?

Alligator attacks on humans do occur, mainly where there are large alligator populations. Pets can also be the victims of alligators living in the vicinity of humans. Most attacks are attributed to humans illegally feeding alligators, which decreases their natural wariness of human beings. Attacks are rare, though, even in gator country. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission reports an average of 8 unprovoked alligator bites per year that are serious enough to require medical treatment. That translates to the likelihood of a Florida resident being seriously injured by an unprovoked alligator attack being about one in 3.1 million.

Most alligator attacks occur in or around water, so anyone living where alligators live should be alert for the presence of gators anywhere near water. Swim only during the day and stick to posted swimming areas. If you encounter an alligator that might be a threat, contact the appropriate authorities to remove it.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Leafyplant at the English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 – License / Original