Wayward Alligator - The Haddonfield Horror

Hopkins Pond in Haddonfield, New Jersey, has been the scene since May 11, 2007 of an alligator, or other similar styled reptile.

On the morning of May 11th a woman reported seeing an alligator swimming in the pond around 9:30 a.m., Sgt. William Draham of the Campden County Park Police Department arrives shortly thereafter and reported seeing the animal eating in the water and then submerging beneath.

Since May 11th the pond has been shutdown and cordoned off while investigators searched the area for the 3-4 foot reptile reported. Schools sent out warnings to parents of the potential danger, and the on looking and searching from the banks commenced.

After searches for two-weeks, the pond and surrounding area was reopened on May 25th. No additional sightings have been made, and no definitive findings of the animal were obtained. The most common reaction to the situation is that the animal was either an escaped pet alligator or caiman, or a released one after it grew too large.

In total officials from the state wildlife department, local authorities as well as a reptile from the Rainforest Reptile Shows partook in the search.

This is just another in the extending list of potential sightings of alligators, or similar styled animals, in the waters of North America.

February 2005 An alligator was reported in Lake Washington in Medina, Washington.
March 2005 A boy kill a 3-foot alligator and report another in a water body near Rehoboth, Massachusetts
April 2005 An 8-inch alligator is found on the Potomac River near Williamsport, Virginia
July 2005 A 4 ½ foot alligator is captured in DW Field Park, and a second animal is reported but not captured near Brockton, Massachusetts
August 2005 A 7-foot alligator is reported in Machado Lake near Los Angeles, California.
August 2005 A 3-foot alligator captured in East Loon Lake near Antioch, Illinois
August 2005 A 2 ½ foot alligator is captured near Kauffman, Pennsylvania
November 2005 A 2-foot alligator is photographed in Longmont, Colorado
May 2006 A 2-foot alligator is captured near Slater Memorial Park in Pawtucket, Rhode Island
April 2007 A small alligator was captured in Huntington, New York.
May 2007 Reggie the alligator of Lake Machado in Los Angeles, California is captured after nearly 2 years of searches

Sources:

The Haddonfield Sun, Haddonfield, New Jersey, May 16-22, 2007
CBS 3 Newreport, May 11, 2007
The Daily Times, Salisbury, Maryland, May 11, 2007
Fox29 Newsreport, May 11, 2007
Courier Post Online, May 25, 2007
Inquirer, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, May 26, 2007
Campden County Press Release, May 26, 2007
Captive Wilde Animal Protection Coalition Reptile Incidents Jan 1, 2005 – June 30, 2006