Alligators in Michigan? Sanctuary near Battle Creek provides haven for reptiles with backstories

ATHENS TWP. — At Critchlow Alligator Sanctuary, every single animal has a story.

Take Tom, for instance. The 9-foot alligator used to live in a frat house in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he frequently lounged on the couch and ate pizza. Or Penelope, a tortoise whose previous owners fed her dog food.

There's Crockett, an alligator who was found lying in a bathtub full of cocaine during a drug bust. And Archie, the young alligator who was listed for sale on Craigslist in St. Louis, Missouri.

These are just a few of the hundreds of reptiles getting a new lease on life thanks to the Critchlow family, who opened the 4 1/2 acre sanctuary more than a decade ago at 1698 M-66 north of Athens.

"It’s not something you expect to find in the Midwest, really," Peter Critchlow said Wednesday as he offered a tour of the grounds. "But there is a need for it because there’s so many people that have exotic pets and end up not being able to take care of them."

What began as a mini sanctuary of snakes, turtles and iguanas rescued by Peter's father, David Critchlow, at the family's Pennfield home in the 1990s and early 2000s has transformed into a full-scale rescue effort and thriving business.

Formally launched in 2008, the sanctuary now takes in roughly 25-30 alligators each year, many of which have worn out their welcome as house pets.

The sanctuary also includes dwarf caimans, a Nile crocodile, a Morelet's crocodile, and several turtles and tortoises, among other reptiles.

The facility added 120 animals in 2021, doubling its tortoise population while also adding 30 alligators.

"We had no idea how much demand there would be for this when we started," said David Critchlow's grandson Alex West, who now works full-time at the sanctuary.

"My goal and hope is that we can just keep this place running as long as we can," West continued. "I just want to make sure that these guys have somewhere that they can stay."

'I had friends that weren't allowed at my house'

The Critchlows' love of reptiles can be traced back to David, who has been fascinated with them ever since he was a kid.

“What little kids don’t like alligators?” he told the Enquirer previously, admitting his love of the beasts likely stemmed from his dad, Jack, who was a biology teacher in Battle Creek.

David began rescuing snakes, turtles and other reptiles in the 1990s and early 2000s, keeping them in the backyard during warmer months. In the winter, the animals were stored inside the family's home.

"Friends loved coming over," Peter said with a smile. "Actually, a lot of parents were a little nervous about it. I had friends that weren’t allowed at my house."

Peter recalls being about 15 years old when the family first took in an alligator. A friend of a friend who had one as a pet was going on vacation and needed someone to watch it. Ultimately, they never came back for the animal.

Over time, David received additional calls about alligators in need, taking in as many as he and his family could support at their home.

"At a certain point, it was like, 'Well, why don’t we just make something and have people come to us?'" West said. "We just had too many animals."

The Critchlows originally hoped to open their sanctuary in Convis Township near Cornwell’s Turkeyville. But a furious public backlash forced them to back off.

With about 30 alligators and a number of other reptiles, the family subsequently opened their sanctuary in Athens Township in 2008.

Through word of mouth, a growing social media presence and strong relationships with zoos throughout the U.S., the sanctuary has grown to include nearly 200 alligators alone, along with other reptiles.

"I feel like one of the reasons we’ve been successful is because the word of mouth has been so positive," Peter said. "It’s not like a zoo. It’s a sanctuary. It’s built for (the animals) so you’re seeing them being taken care of in the most natural way we can. They’re not in little stalls or cages or really on display for us. It’s more like their home and we’re just visiting."

'They all have their own story to tell'

When the Critchlows receive a new alligator, they carefully work to acclimate the animal to the outdoors and — to the extent possible — other alligators.

The alligators are grouped by size, which Peter says is the best way to keep them from fighting with each other. Preschool, with the smallest animals, is covered by a roof so predators such as herons won't swoop in and snatch the animals. Elementary school is for the smallest gators (less than 2 feet); middle school includes the mid-sized alligators (three to six feet); high school features larger gators.

Godzilla and Medusa, the sanctuary's largest male and female alligators, respectively, have their own isolated exhibit, as do several alligators with long-term injuries. New arrivals often begin their stay in isolation as well, West explained.

Among the alligators in isolation is Smiley, a 31-year-old who recently joined the sanctuary after years with her original owners in Minnesota, where she had been a regular attraction at renaissance festivals.

Cassanova, meanwhile, was rescued from Whitmore Lake north of Ann Arbor in 2015, and Mitch was recovered from a home in Detroit where he had been kept as a guard animal.

Tyrion, the sanctuary's oldest alligator at 32 years old, was kept in a dark Minnesota basement for 25 years before he was brought to the sanctuary.

"Just like with people, (the alligators) all have their own story to tell," said Lina Kelly, David's daughter who serves as one of the caretakers at the sanctuary. "For us, whenever we get new animals, we try to get as much of their story from the original owners so we can share that with the public."

Once the alligators get to be about five to six feet in length, the Critchlows train the alligators — not for entertainment purposes, but rather to make them easier to handle. Alligators eventually learn their names and how to respond to basic commands like "up" and "down."

This connection with caretakers makes it much easier in the fall, when the alligators are moved to an on-site heated indoor facility for the winter. The basic commands also allow the Critchlows to demonstrate the intelligence of these reptiles to visitors, many of whom enter with misconceptions that alligators "will hunt you down and eat you."

"(Alligators) are pretty amazing animals and they do, they get such a bad wrap," Kelly said. "There’s very few books or movies where the alligator, or even just reptiles in general, are the heroes. They’re always the villains and so if we can show that they’re not really all villains, we can try to educate (people) a little bit more."

In addition to daily guided tours offered at the sanctuary, the Critchlows work with several area colleges on educational programs as well as offer internships at the sanctuary.

The family also hosts Crocodilian Containment and Safety Training (CCST) sessions each year for law enforcement and animal control agencies throughout the Midwest, teaching best practices for how to secure an alligator without causing harm to the animal.

More than anything, the Critchlows just want to ensure these animals have a good home for generations to come.

"If we can create the stewards of tomorrow, or just at least help steer somebody in that direction, that, to me, is the best result," Peter said.

Planning a visit?

Critchlow Alligator Sanctuary, 1698 M-66, south of Battle Creek

• Admission is $11.95 for adults and most kids, $10.95 for seniors ages 60 and older and free for kids 2 and younger; animal encounters such as feeding tortoises or holding a small alligator are available at an additional cost

• Hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily May 1 through Oct. 1

• For more information, visit alligatorsanctuary.com

Contact reporter Greyson Steele at gsteele@battlecreekenquirer.com or 269-501-5661. Follow him on Twitter: G_SteeleBC

This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: Critchlow Alligator Sanctuary near Battle Creek offers reptiles a new home