**UPDATE: As reported Saturday afternoon by KIRO 7, the reptile in question turned out to be an exotic tegu lizard that recently escaped from its owner.
Alligators are not native to Washington State and could not establish a population in the region because of its cool climate. But somewhere in Snohomish County, a very large gator is on the prowl.
“Granite Falls Deputies are investigating the sighting of a 10’ alligator near the 9400 block of Ray Grade Rd.,” the Snohomish County Sheriff announced late Friday via X. “The reptile was last seen south of Ray Grade Rd. toward the Pilchuck River.”
A grainy image shows the alligator in dense vegetation.
Granite Falls Deputies are investigating the sighting of a 10’ alligator near the 9400 block of Ray Grade Rd. The reptile was last seen south of Ray Grade Rd toward the Pilchuck River.
No further information at this time. pic.twitter.com/KJWBTF9geZ— snocosheriff (@SnoCoSheriff) July 20, 2024
KIRO 7 reported that the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is aware of the sighting but, at this point, does not plan to try to locate or capture the reptile.
“There aren’t any houses near where the gator was spotted so deputies are hopeful there won’t be any interactions with humans,” KIRO 7 reported.
It’s not clear who previously owned the gator or how long it has survived in the wild.
American alligators are native to the southeastern United States and thrive in hot, steamy regions such as the Florida Everglades.
Sightings in Washington State are extremely rare, but in 2016 several reported sightings on Lake Meridian prompted Kent city officials to post warning signs along the shore.
–Generic image atop this post is courtesy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
