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Long Island Alligator Count Hits 19 in 1 Year

gator
The 19th Long Island alligator (SCSPCA)
The 19th Long Island alligator (SCSPCA)

A 19th alligator has turned up on Long Island since a year ago last month.

Suffolk County SPCA officers rescued the 2-foot-long American Alligator on Wednesday from a Miller Place home, the nonprofit agency said.

The owner turned in the gator after missing the recent reptile amnesty day—the second such event on LI since the gators started popping up in Nassau and mostly Suffolk in September 2012, according to Roy Gross, chief of the Suffolk SPCA.

The alligator appeared to be in good health and will be turned over to a Licensed Reptile Facility, he said, adding in a news release that “the owner did the right thing by calling us … rather than setting it loose somewhere.”

The incident also comes after 850 snakes were recently found in a Shirley man’s home.

To report an animal issue to the Suffolk County SPCA, call 631-382-SPCA or visit www.suffolkspca.us.