Kayakers report alligator in Kiski River near Salina Bridge

Joyce Hanz, The Valley News-Dispatch, Tarentum, Pa.
·3 min read
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Jul. 31—A routine float Sunday afternoon on the Kiski River resulted in an unexpected animal sighting for six kayakers.

"There were kids shouting 'Alligator!' ahead of us on the river. I thought they were kidding," said Jim Cibik of Kiski Township.

Cibik, along with his wife, Joli, and four friends, spotted and took photos of what they said is a young alligator — around 4 feet in length — swimming in the river near the bank.

Ann Thomson Tanis said she paddled closer to photograph the animal.

Joli Cibik reported the sighting via an email Sunday evening to the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. As of Monday morning, the Cibiks had not heard back from any wildlife officials.

Cibik took to social media Sunday, posting about the encounter on Facebook.

"On Saturday, July 29th, we saw an alligator in the Kiski River between Avonmore and Apollo while kayaking. It's actually sad some people think they're good pets, until they're not, and release them into our rivers," Cibik wrote in the post.

"It was right past Salina Bridge headed toward Apollo," said eyewitness Mark Tanis on where the alligator was spotted. "It was on the shore, then it moved into the water. We obviously don't see this on the Kiski. It was not large — probably about 4 feet."

Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission communications director Mark Parker confirmed Monday the agency fielded two inquiries within a week about the alligator.

"We're aware of the report but the (fish commission) is not responsible for nonnative species, but we do our best to assist with these calls," Parker said.

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Related:

—From 2019: This isn't Florida, man: Another alligator found in Pittsburgh

—From 2019: Dozens of animals, reptiles seized from home where 5-foot gator named Chomp escaped

—In summer heat, bear spotted in Southern California backyard Jacuzzi

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In Pennsylvania, alligators fall under the nonnative species category.

"Typically, it's an irresponsible pet owner who releases an alligator that was likely a pet," Parker said. "When an animal is introduced into the waters of (Pennsylvania), then that release of an animal is a violation of our code. That person could be held responsible."

Parker said it would be "extremely unlikely" for an alligator to survive a harsh Pennsylvania winter.

In 2011, a 5-foot alligator reported in the waters of Westmoreland County's Beaver Run Reservoir was predicted to not survive a Pennsylvania winter by wildlife officials.

Danny Hilliard of Leechburg, founder of the Leechburg Angling Club, said Sunday he was skeptical of the alligator sighting at first, but contacted Cibik and said he feels the sighting is credible.

"It's a sad thing both for the animal and the community. It's cruel to release an animal into a habitat that won't support it long-term, and it's irresponsible to expose unsuspecting folks to a potentially dangerous wild animal," Hilliard said.

Officials from the Lower Kiski Swift Water Rescue, Flood Response and Public Safety Dive Teams issued a cautionary warning for river enthusiasts via a post Monday to their Facebook page, explaining that without dams, the alligator potentially could navigate anywhere along the Kiski River.

For the Cibiks, the goal of the Facebook post is to make the public aware of the incident.

In 2019, multiple sightings of alligators, on land and in the water, were reported in the Pittsburgh area.

"Unfortunately, these things are not rare, and, unfortunately, things rarely end up well for the animal. Rescue organizations do not have the capacity to take in these exotic animals. We (the Fish Commission) don't have the capacity to house these animals," Parker said. "If people have a pet that is nonnative to Pennsylvania and release that animal into the wilds of Pennsylvania, it's not only unlawful, but cruel, and has little chance of surviving."

The public is advised to report nonnative animal sightings by providing the location to their local law enforcement agency.

Joyce Hanz is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Joyce by email at jhanz@triblive.com or via Twitter .