The Alligators in Sewers Urban Legend

A_Ghost_Town · Joined: 21 Feb 2009 Posts: 22 Location: Gloucester

In New York City a tourist can find any manner of person or thing stocked as the city is with cultures as varied as they are different. As for a local, they can find what the tourists can only imagine, familiar as they are with the local twists and turns…but what about the fabled NYC sewer alligators? Is there any truth to this Urban Legend that has persisted since the 1930s?

The tales of giant lizards thriving beneath the streets of perhaps the most famous city in the world have been told and retold, and are as persistent as alligators are intimidating. The stories typically follow the same track- New Yorkers visiting sunny Florida- well known for its population of gators, bring back to the city a souvenir in the form of a baby gator pet. Once the gator begins to grow, however, they see the error of their ways (perhaps fearing for the life of other family pets, or themselves) and flush the offending alligator down the toilet. This mini saurian winds up in the sewer system beneath the city, where it survives on rats, until it grows large enough to hunt something larger…

No one can argue that there are some pretty frightening things in New York City, especially in places that hide from the light of day and scrutiny of the throng, but alligators? Where did such a tale come from?

YB · Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2009 5:47 pm Post subject:

People have gotten them as pets when they were little and when they got to big let them loose. The gators migrated to the sewers where they survived and grew. Not so much an Urban Legend but it does occur.

bitterbuck1 · Posted: Fri Mar 20, 2009 6:01 pm Post subject:

They had this topic on a series called "Monster Quest" recently.

Aiden · Joined: 11 Apr 2009 Posts: 244

I think it's morbid. I do think that gators can end up in sewer, since their habitat's are missing...

They can be implanted! One time I saw a boa floating in the sewer, under the bars. I know that thing, came from a pet shop..!

bitterbuck1 · Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2009 4:31 pm Post subject:

http://www.squidoo.com/alligatorvspython

http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/5-2-2006-95016.asp

Here are just a couple of articles that show how
exotic pets are disrupting the natural habitat.

flossy · Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2009 6:33 pm Post subject:

thanks for the info bitter, interesting read Wink

they must be pretty big snakes to swallow a croc Shocked

bitterbuck1 · Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2009 6:54 pm Post subject:

Makes you think twice before going to the everglades. Laughing

flossy · Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2009 9:09 pm Post subject:

you bet it does Laughing