Three foot alligator finds a new home at the theme park after being left behind by the death of a Helena Montana resident
Alex, a three-foot alligator from Helena, Montana arrived at his new home at Gatorland on Tuesday, March 3 where the Rocky Mountain native will spend the rest of his days snacking on turkey dogs and soaking up the warm Florida sun.

Sue Cecrle, a Lewis and Clark County animal control officer, first learned of the abandoned pet alligator from the relatives of a man who unexpectedly passed away in November 2008. After conducting a complete investigation, Cecrle and her team located the alligator in a bathtub at the home of the owner and quickly transported the young reptile to the Lewis and Clark County Humane Society where it has spent several months awaiting an invitation from his new family in sunny Central Florida.

“Once I heard the story of this little gator I knew we had to rescue him from the cold, snowy winters of Montana,” states Mark McHugh, President & CEO of Gatorland. “The only white stuff he might see here are the white, leucistic alligators located right around the corner from Alex’s new enclosure.

Gatorland is a 110-acre theme park and wildlife preserve, combining “Old Florida” charm with exciting, new exhibits and entertainment. The park opened as a roadside attraction in 1949. Today, it provides affordable-priced family fun with thousands of alligators, crocodiles, an aviary, breeding marsh with observation tower, petting zoo, nature walk, educational wildlife programs, award-winning gift shop, Florida’s best train-ride, restaurant, Gator Gully Splash Park and one-of-a-kind reptilian shows including the Gator Wrestlin’ Show, Gator Jumparoo and the Up-close Encounters Show. And, don’t miss the the world’s largest collection of giant white alligators.