Here's Why Abandoned Alligators Are Being Dumped All Over Metro Detroit

Local 4 news went undercover to expose a thriving market for reptiles that has lead to alligators being found across Metro Detroit.

The reptiles have been turning up more and more in the area. Recently, an alligator was hauled out of a Detroit backyard, another was found wandering around Milford and yet another was shot on a man's Saginaw property. In addition, two baby alligators were found in a building in Eastpointe.

There is no overarching state law outlawing the sale of alligators. However, different cities have laws about selling and owning them. Take, for example, Roseville. According to city code, it is illegal for anyone in Roseville to possess, breed, exchange, buy, sell or attempt to offer to buy or sell certain exotic animals. This includes alligators.

One man, Josh Applebaum, said he bought his pet alligator "Karen" from a reptile store in Roseville. He bought Karen as a "guard gator" instead of getting a guard dog. When Local 4 went to the store, a worker denied selling the reptile, despite the journalist having a receipt that showed a purchase agreement that says "gator."

“I wasn’t here. Past employees were selling stuff illegally,” she said. The new management said they no longer sell alligators.

The outlet also went to a reptile expo in Kalamazoo. While there, someone admitted to selling 300 alligators. When asked what happens when the alligators grow —as they can get up to 15 feet long and weigh more than 1,000 pounds— the vendor replied: "You can get rid of him."

That's where the problem resides. Local 4 discovered that many people are buying alligators on a whim, and then dumping them when they grow to be too much. This puts the alligator's life, and the lives of others, at risk.