Small alligator rescued in Boston after slithering into the city’s heart on social media
November 13, 2025
Wildlife officials say a small alligator spotted along the Charles River in Boston this week has been rescued and delivered to safety. The foot-long crocodilian startled a few people this week and became an instant star on social media as it slithered away from confused onlookers. Officials say a local wildlife educator captured the critter on Wednesday night, and it’s now awaiting a permanent home. The officials say the animal was most likely an escaped pet, although it’s not legal to keep alligators as pets in Massachusetts. Alligators have a history of occasionally showing up in urban areas. One appeared in Chicago in 2019 and was eventually trapped. Another one showed up on the Charles River in the Boston area in 2010.