Owner of 2nd alligator seen in Kiski River explains how it got there, efforts to bring him back home

Sep. 6—The recent report of a second alligator swimming Sunday in the Kiski River appears to be a runaway reptile named Neo.

Austin Randall, 23, of Lyndora, Butler County, said Wednesday he lost Neo on Aug. 29 while attempting to re-home the baby male alligator to Kiski Township resident and alligator expert Dominic Hayward.

Neo is about 21/2 feet long.

"I set the bin (Neo's enclosure) down, and I could have sworn I had the latches set on top of it. I even set a tire on top of the closed bin. My mistake was when I set it down, I guess my leg accidentally bumped the latch," Randall said.

Neo fled when Randall attempted to grab him.

"He hauled butt over the hillside," Randall said of nimble Neo, who somehow navigated his way out of the plastic bin while Randall and Hayward briefly walked to the backyard to look at some of Hayward's numerous pet alligators residing in a large pool.

"He looked like he was having fun (going down the hillside) but we were unable to catch him," Hayward said. "We searched for hours."

On Sunday, a group of kayakers reported seeing a small alligator swimming in the Kiski River. Joshua Kelley of Buffalo Township photographed the reptile and later reported the sighting to Kiski Township Police.

The sighting was reported to be about a mile north from where an alligator some people named Chomper was rescued from the Kiski River near Apollo in August.

Chomper was safely apprehended by authorities and has since been relocated to a reptile rescue facility in Pittsburgh, where he will serve as an alligator ambassador.

Randall said he needed someone to foster his pet gator because he is moving soon and will need to construct a new, larger habitat for Neo.

"Dom was going to foster Neo for a few months, " Randall said.

Randall acquired Neo in 2021 from an ad on Craig's List.

Randall also owns snakes, a snapping turtle, a tortoise, a dwarf Cayman crocodile and a Tasmanian puff adder, which is a venomous snake from South Africa.

And then there's his 8-foot boa constrictor.

Friends for more than five years, Randall and Hayward said they were surprised at Neo's agility and escape skills.

Hayward said his fiancee contacted Kiski Township police after Neo escaped, but they haven't heard back from authorities.

Kiski Township Police Chief Lee Bartolicius did not respond to requests for comment Wednesday.

Hayward is hopeful local police and Armstrong County Humane Officer Amber Phillips will assist in the search.

"I'd like a little help at this point," Hayward said Wednesday, eight days after Neo's escape.

Phillips declined to comment Tuesday.

Both men have conducted their own daily searches for Neo.

Hayward has set up set lines using chicken as bait, and he checks them daily.

Randall is hopeful he can catch Neo at dusk and plans to search the river every night.

"He likes to come out of the water then," Randall said.

Randall, engaged and a father to two small children, said he has a message for those who wonder why folks keep reptiles and exotic pets.

"Not all reptile keepers buy reptiles and don't do the research first. We're not all bad," Randall said. "I love my animals. It was a freak accident, and we've never had an escape. But things happen, and we're hoping we can get him back safe."

Neo's disposition is described as friendly.

Randall said he thinks Neo is likely adapting quite well to river life.

"Neo was never aggressive, and he's probably eating plenty of fish," Randall said.

But Randall cautioned anyone spotting the alligator to call 911 and leave it alone.

"People should keep their distance from him because he is food motivated," Randall said. "He can do tricks for food. If I want him to stand on his back legs I give him mice or raw chicken.

"In my opinion a gator of Neo's size won't do any harm — as long as people leave him alone and wait for someone knowledgeable to come out and catch him," Randall said. "I really hope that someone isn't going to kill Neo."

If apprehended, Hayward plans to foster the alligator until Randall can resume ownership.

"If you find him, don't kill him," Hayward said. "Call 911."

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