Question of the day
Friday, Jul 12, 2019 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Block Club Chicago…
As animal experts deploy a new strategy to try to capture and rescue the elusive alligator in Humboldt Park, concern is rising over the reptile’s health.
After several days of occasional sightings, the approximately 5-foot-long American alligator hasn’t been seen in more than 24 hours. […]
“We’ve gone 24 hours without a confirmed sighting of the animal. I’m not gonna speculate, but you guys will anyway,” [Alligator Bob] told reporters. “He could’ve been sick or injured when they threw him in here. … ‘Oh, I fed him something and he’s poison and he’s not eating. Oh, I dropped something and broke his back. Oh, I stabbed him when he bit me.’ There’s 100 things.
“We might be looking for a carcass. The water temperature is 74 degrees, just like any other body, it’ll come floating to the surface. But I’m not saying he’s dead. He’s just missing.”
* Sun-Times…
A new strategy emerged on day four of alligator watch at the Humboldt Park Lagoon: Playing recordings of baby alligators.
Herpetologist “Alligator Bob” said Friday he plans to use a device that mimics the sound of baby alligators in hopes of luring the alligator.
The strategy has worked “very well” with wild alligators in Southern states, Bob said, but the Humboldt Park gator was probably raised in captivity.
“We’re not putting a lot of success in it,” Bob said. “It’s worked well in the wild, but we don’t know if it’ll work here.”
* The Question: Are you rooting for the alligator or for Alligator Bob? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please…
online polls
- Boone's is Back - Friday, Jul 12, 19 @ 2:06 pm:
To quote Ivan Drago, “if he dies he dies.”
- NoGifts - Friday, Jul 12, 19 @ 2:13 pm:
Alligator bob because chance the snapper will freeze to death later if he’s not captured now.
- lakeside - Friday, Jul 12, 19 @ 2:14 pm:
I think they’re both on the same team: chickens for Chance.
- JJJJJJJJJJJ - Friday, Jul 12, 19 @ 2:15 pm:
I mean their interests are aligned. It’s not like Bob is gonna kill the thing. Although that would be quite the heal turn at this point. Anyways I vote Gator.
- What's in a name? - Friday, Jul 12, 19 @ 2:16 pm:
I hope whoever put him in there has a few more. Imagine the news if he is multiplying.
Also Chicago should forget the COWS lets get GATORS.
- Ravenswood Right Winger - Friday, Jul 12, 19 @ 2:16 pm:
Where is Wallace “Gator” Bradley in all of this drama?
- A Jack - Friday, Jul 12, 19 @ 2:17 pm:
I voted for Chance. Although he probably heard about the Illinois winters and moved to Florida.
- Flapdoodle - Friday, Jul 12, 19 @ 2:17 pm:
Had a couple baby gators way back before they were protected. They escaped from their pen, hunkered down in the garden where the dog found them. Dog walked with a limp for a while, gators went to a zoo, and my mother drew a line in the sand about future pets.
- A Jack - Friday, Jul 12, 19 @ 2:18 pm:
Maybe Bigfoot took Chance home as a pet.
- Just Another Anon - Friday, Jul 12, 19 @ 2:20 pm:
Forget calling this gator “Chance the Snapper”. I will only refer to him as “Richard J. Scaley”.
- OutOfState - Friday, Jul 12, 19 @ 2:26 pm:
I agree that they’re really on the same team now. According to what I’ve read, Chance needs to be found soon or risk dying, even if he wasn’t already injured. I voted Alligator Bob since it seems like he has the best chance of saving Chance.
- SpfdNewb - Friday, Jul 12, 19 @ 2:26 pm:
Chance the snapper. There is no reason except I want to keep reading about a 5 foot gator in Chicago.
- Jose Abreu's Next Homerun - Friday, Jul 12, 19 @ 2:28 pm:
I’m on board with Chance. I bought this t shirt today. I may bike to the lagoon tomorrow and if Excuses Bob is reeling him, I’ll save Chance.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Jul 12, 19 @ 2:28 pm:
===I agree that they’re really on the same team===
I am for freedom! lol
- OutOfState - Friday, Jul 12, 19 @ 2:28 pm:
Sorry for the double post - weird computer glitch.
===“Richard J. Scaley”===
Well done. That’s even better than Croc Obama.
- Stones - Friday, Jul 12, 19 @ 2:29 pm:
There are thousands of guys here in FL that could probably trap that gator. I’d bet they would do it for free in exchange for a free trip to Chicago.
- Red Ranger - Friday, Jul 12, 19 @ 2:29 pm:
When Chance is sent to Florida, the IPI, Kass and McQueary will squawk that this is more evidence of the #IllinoisExodus
- Captain Obvious - Friday, Jul 12, 19 @ 2:29 pm:
Where is Troy Landry when we really need him?
- Henry Francis - Friday, Jul 12, 19 @ 2:30 pm:
This has been a good story for this city. It will continue to be a good story until it is caught or it is found dead.
My hope: it is never found. Sort of a Schrodinger’s cat.
- Keyrock - Friday, Jul 12, 19 @ 2:36 pm:
A vote for Bob. I hate gators.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jul 12, 19 @ 2:39 pm:
I’m rooting for “Alligator Bob”.
All day.
“Why?”
The legend of Chance the Snapper will live on forever, Alligator Bob, catchin’ dat gator… we can show those swamp folk a thing or three…
- Amalia - Friday, Jul 12, 19 @ 2:46 pm:
it’s too bad the person who put the alligator into the lagoon cannot be found and prosecuted. for animal abuse. what terrible care for a creature who should not even be in the possession of someonetoher than a zoo. there are 500 cats available at the Anti Cruelty Society right now. get an animal who is supposed to be in your home. not one that belongs in the wild. I will be so sad if The Snapper dies.
- pool boy - Friday, Jul 12, 19 @ 2:48 pm:
Alligator Bob because his name reminds me of Arizona Bob.
- OneMan - Friday, Jul 12, 19 @ 2:53 pm:
It is hard to pick a winner here but rooting for Chance The Snaper
- Dotnonymous - Friday, Jul 12, 19 @ 2:53 pm:
Very little physics humor on the cop blog…just sayin’.
That would make Schrodinger laugh.
I voted for Chance…
Say Alligator Bob out loud…and try not to laugh.
- Candy Dogood - Friday, Jul 12, 19 @ 2:59 pm:
I am surprised this was not a plot line from Parks N Rec.
- Scamp640 - Friday, Jul 12, 19 @ 3:06 pm:
I wonder if this reptilian fugitive is related to Chicago native / fast food purveyor, Ray Croc.
- Grandson of Man - Friday, Jul 12, 19 @ 3:15 pm:
Bob. The park is for people and pets, and an alligator can really hurt someone. The gator needs to be taken somewhere where it can survive without possibly hurting or killing someone.
- @misterjayem - Friday, Jul 12, 19 @ 3:16 pm:
As fellow “son that could eat up his weight in groceries,” I voted for Bob.
– MrJM
- Wylie Coyote - Friday, Jul 12, 19 @ 3:27 pm:
I can sure tell there aren’t many snowbird posters on here. On the golf course we just take a drop and play through and around the varmint.
- FormerParatrooper - Friday, Jul 12, 19 @ 3:27 pm:
I voted for Bob. Hopefully the gator is ok and can be relocated to somewhere more suitable for him.
- Pieroge Tirebiter - Friday, Jul 12, 19 @ 3:27 pm:
I vote for both. Put chance in the Illinois river with a down coat on to eat all those blasted carp
- Pius - Friday, Jul 12, 19 @ 3:44 pm:
Chance the snapper. Always vote for the underdog–I mean undercroc.
- No Swimming - Friday, Jul 12, 19 @ 3:44 pm:
Alligators don’t attack unless Scared. However, Crocodiles attack no matter what. I held a baby alligator as did my Mom many years ago in Florida. It was scary to do so but it was totally harmless. Still don’t know the difference between alligators and crocodiles except how they attack.
- Dee Lay - Friday, Jul 12, 19 @ 3:55 pm:
Voted for Chance the Snapper and hope he is relocated to Brookfield Zoo.
Pipe dream is to have the REAL Chance help lead a fundraising effort to help out the Cook County FPD and Brookfield Zoo.
- CEA - Friday, Jul 12, 19 @ 3:56 pm:
I wouldn’t want the poor reptile to freeze to death, so if he’s still alive and chomping I hope they find him before winter, but I don’t begrudge him a little fun in the meantime. What with the high water and the hurricane in Louisiana, it’s not a bad time for a gator to be hanging out in the Windy City in a comparative paradise of all-you-can-eat geese.
- Quincy - Friday, Jul 12, 19 @ 3:57 pm:
Time to make a call to Troy and the boys from Louisiana to catch the alligator
- Wensicia - Friday, Jul 12, 19 @ 4:02 pm:
I voted for the alligator. Perhaps he got tired of the crowds and walked off in search of calmer waters.
- Anyone Remember - Friday, Jul 12, 19 @ 4:15 pm:
Chance. If they really want to catch him, involve Carl Kolchak.
- SAP - Friday, Jul 12, 19 @ 4:24 pm:
Voting for Chance, aka Humboldt’s Gift.