* If you rooted for Alligator Bob in our poll last week, you appear to have lost. Here’s Block Club Chicago…
After six fruitless days of searching for an elusive alligator in the Humboldt Park Lagoon, the city announced it’s bringing in an expert from Florida and shutting down part of the park in a stepped-up effort to trap the gator.
The orders came from the top — Mayor Lori Lightfoot, according to Ald. Roberto Maldonado.
The city’s Animal Care and Control Department said it “is grateful to the Chicago Herpetological Society for its onsite assistance,” but didn’t say if the group’s alligator hunter known as Alligator Bob was now out of the mix.
Alligator Bob, a volunteer, has toiled in the lagoon for six days, day and night, baiting traps and paddling his canoe around looking for the gator. He was on the job Sunday, but later packed up his traps and left the park.
* The city is bringing in a Florida expert…
Chicago animal control officials have closed the eastern half of Humboldt Park and have hired an expert from Florida as the search for an alligator in the park lagoon enters its second week.
The closure, which includes streets near the park, was done on the advice of the expert, Frank Robb, and is aimed at making the area around the lagoon as quiet and free from distractions as possible, according to Chicago Animal Care and Control. […]
Robb, who owns Crocodilian Specialist Services in St. Augustine, Fla., arrived in Chicago on Sunday and “immediately began assessing the park and lagoon,” according to the statement.
Robb’s LinkedIn page claims he’s been a “Self-employed Alligator Trapping Agent” since May of 1997. His media clips are here.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Jul 15, 19 @ 10:44 am:
This is not the “Chicago Way”
I’m rooting for the Alligator now.
#AlligatorBobForever
- Dotnonymous - Monday, Jul 15, 19 @ 10:46 am:
Chance - 1
Alligator Bob - 0
Chance the Snapper Lives…to snap another day.
- lakeside - Monday, Jul 15, 19 @ 10:49 am:
Not a ton of crocs down there in FL, sir. BTW, please hire my company, Opossum Catchers Services, to deal with your raccoon problem.
Team Alligator Bob forever.
- Just Observing - Monday, Jul 15, 19 @ 10:49 am:
Poor Alligator Bob — he did his best.
- Chicago Cynic - Monday, Jul 15, 19 @ 10:52 am:
Sounds like they’re bringing in the alligator equivalent of Quint.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPi40lQetew
- A guy - Monday, Jul 15, 19 @ 10:53 am:
Gator sneaked into another ward. Where his services, gifts and lifestyle are more appreciated.
- Excitable Boy - Monday, Jul 15, 19 @ 10:54 am:
If only our tax climate weren’t so oppressive the Illinois gator trapping industry would be thriving and we’d have our own experts…
- Keyrock - Monday, Jul 15, 19 @ 10:54 am:
I’m still rooting against the gator. I hate gators. I’m not fooled by their smiles.
- Just Another Anon - Monday, Jul 15, 19 @ 10:58 am:
I’m starting a petition to change the gator’s name to Richard J. Scaley.
- Pot calling kettle - Monday, Jul 15, 19 @ 11:00 am:
Any story with “Florida man” in it…
- Cheryl44 - Monday, Jul 15, 19 @ 11:02 am:
The new guy seems to have more of a plan then just paddling around in a canoe.
- Tequila Mockingbird - Monday, Jul 15, 19 @ 11:23 am:
They should film an episode of swamp men reality tv there and bring some of that much needed revenue to Chicago.
- Grandpa2 - Monday, Jul 15, 19 @ 11:33 am:
I wonder if the Alligator Trapping Agent has read the 1908 book, “Florida Enchantments” by Dimock that described how a local boy in south Florida hunted alligators. He waded barefoot into the alligator pond and when he felt an alligator in the mud, the animal was dispatched with a hatchet. Hopefully, Alligator Bob will not suffer a similar fate.
- OneMan - Monday, Jul 15, 19 @ 11:34 am:
Is he the nephew of an Alderman?
- Not a Florida Man - Monday, Jul 15, 19 @ 11:40 am:
==Any story with “Florida man” in it… ==
Disaster waiting to happen.
- Grandpa2 - Monday, Jul 15, 19 @ 11:53 am:
Oops. Sorry, meant to say Chance the Snapper.
- Nick Name - Monday, Jul 15, 19 @ 11:59 am:
“Arrr I’ll be catchin’ yer ‘gator fer ye, but it’ll cost ye.”
- Ron Burgundy - Monday, Jul 15, 19 @ 12:04 pm:
—more of a plan than just paddling around in a canoe —
This is Chicago. That probably was the plan.
That’s OK we’ll even up with Florida on the snow removal contracts.
- Soccermom - Monday, Jul 15, 19 @ 12:07 pm:
Alligator Bob has bragged about having more than 100 crocodilians at his home — in violation of Illinois law. Maybe that’s why Lori Lightfoot chose someone else?
- Amalia - Monday, Jul 15, 19 @ 12:36 pm:
oh good, a Florida connection. perhaps Carl Hiaasen will follow the story and write something.
- Hottot - Monday, Jul 15, 19 @ 12:50 pm:
Too bad Paul Hogan isn’t available.
- Blue Dog Dem - Monday, Jul 15, 19 @ 1:52 pm:
Its no coincidence that both Burke and MJM were reportedly seen sporting new shoes over the weekend.
- Whatever - Monday, Jul 15, 19 @ 3:59 pm:
==If only our tax climate weren’t so oppressive the Illinois gator trapping industry would be thriving and we’d have our own experts… ==
I’ll have you know that Gov Rauner personally made sure that all regulations and limitations on gator trapping were repealed. It’s only Gov Pritzker’s so-called fair tax and the unfunded pension plan debt that are keeping Chicago from being the gator-trapping capital of the world.