Can alligators climb trees?
“ This new sub species of alligator has lizard like agility and loves to hunt in trees for birds. They have also adapted to the cold Pennsylvania Winters”, said the chief scientist at NIFS* research center. Their scientists are studying a sub species of alligator that has been found thriving in the Shenango River basin. They speculate that a pair of pet alligators grew too large and were released into the Pymatuning Reservoir approximately eight years ago. The harsh cold weather shocked their system and triggered activation of a long dormant gene packet that had allowed their prehistoric ancestors to tolerate cold climates. They go into a extremely deep hibernation where all metabolic activity goes into stasis until it is brought back by warmer temperatures. The offspring of the original pair carry the characteristics of their prehistoric ancestors. They are smaller than their southern cousins but with greater speed, agility and intelligence and have a much larger brain. The Shenango River Alligator can grow to five feet in length and weigh up to ninety pounds.
They are not aggressive but have been known to mistakenly snap off a geocacher's finger that was poking around in dark places. Exercise caution if you encounter this creature; so your finger does not end up in his belly.
* National Institute of Fallacious Science