Alligator in the Kiski River spotted multiple times over the weekend; search efforts resume

New sightings of an alligator Sunday in the Kiski River have prompted officials and volunteers to focus their search in a new area in hopes of catching the wayward reptile.

Kiski Area police Chief Lee Bartolicius confirmed Sunday there have been additional reports of alligator sightings since Friday.

Officials would not reveal the exact location or the stretch of river where the search was focused Sunday afternoon.

“In an effort to preserve our search efforts and keep out persons wanting to harm the alligator, I’m going to refrain from giving a search area,” Bartolicius said. “Live traps have been put in place, and we also have an area we are focusing on.”

Bartolicius has previously said he’s concerned that some people might want to harm the alligator.

The young alligator, reported to be around 4 feet long and believed to have been dumped in the river by someone, was initially reported to the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission by a group of kayakers July 30.

Since its initial sighting near the Salina Bridge and a second sighting in the proximity of the Roaring Run Trail near Apollo on July 31, others are coming forward with their alligator encounters.

Megan Wright of Leechburg was kayaking with her friend, J.P. Zanotto of Allegheny Township, Friday when they saw the alligator sunning on a rock on the opposite side of the river.

“We had been looking for it — hoping to see it — and I floated right by it. Joe spotted it and said, ‘Hey Meg, there it is!’ My first reaction was, ‘Look how cute,’ and the alligator retreated into the river,” Wright said.

Wright didn’t have her cellphone with her, and they did not call 911 to report the sighting.

Both said they weren’t worried about sharing the river with an alligator.

“They’re more afraid of us than we are of them,” Wright said.

Zanotto attempted to take a photo of the alligator with a disposable camera he had around his neck, but the gator quickly retreated into the river.

He said he thinks the public shouldn’t fret over the river reptile.

“I don’t think it’s a threat to anybody at all,” Zanotto said. “It’s no threat to anything except 4-inch fish.”

Neill Andritz, owner of River’s Edge Canoe & Kayak in Gilpin said the alligator topic has been on a lot of customers’ minds, but it’s not affecting kayak/tubing reservations.

“A lot of our customers have asked about it (alligator) but they don’t seem concerned about it,” Andritz said. “We’re hoping the efforts to catch it humanely are successful.”

Joyce Hanz | Tribune-Review

A group enjoys a tubing float trip Sunday along the Kiski River in Gilpin.

Andritz said he doesn’t expect his business to suffer from the gator hoopla.

“We’re just upset that someone would do this,” he said.

River’s Edge employee Brandon Russo is from Louisiana and grew up around gators. He said there are some customers who are hoping for a wildlife encounter.

“Some people are excited. They just want to see it,” Russo said.

Tom Mergen of Salina took his young daughter swimming Sunday in the Kiski River near the Roaring Run Trail.

Mergen said he wasn’t worried about the alligator.

“It’s an animal. I’ve heard about it. It would make a nice pair of boots,” Mergen said. “Around here … most people have a weapon.”

At Saltsburg Kayak & Canoe Outfitters in Saltsburg, manager Brandi Spears said almost every customer who calls does inquire about the gator situation.

“It’s a big joke and there are memes going around, but it hasn’t affected our business. It doesn’t bother us,” Spears said Sunday evening.

Saltsburg Kayak offers float trips on the Conemaugh River, not the Kiski.

“I hope they catch it. I’ve never heard of anything like it in my 15 years in the kayak business,” Spears said.

Volunteers and officials continue efforts to safely locate, trap and relocate the alligator.

Officials are reminding the public to not approach the alligator and to call 911 to report any sightings.