Watershed Wednesday: See you later alligator, alligator spotted in Lake Erie

On August 4, 2024, an Alligator had been spotted in Erie, Pennsylvania and caught on video, swimming offshore in Lake Erie.  Since then animal rescue specialists have been searching the area, with reports of possible footprints and other sightings. 

“We are aware of it,” dit Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission spokesman Mike Parker. “If in the course of other duties one of our officers saw the alligator they could become involved. But we don’t have anyone actively searching.”

Releasing an alligator – or any other nonnative species – into the wild is a violation of Pennsylvania law. Parker’s agency has occasionally investigated how such animals end up being released. “In many cases, that animal has been released, typically by a pet owner who no longer wanted it, could no longer afford it or is unable to deal with the size,” said Parker.

The reptile is estimated to be about three feet long and should be able to find plenty to eat in the freshwater environment. 

How the reptile ended up in Lake Erie remains unknown. 

Photo vedette : Aldric RIVAT, Unsplash

Photo: Jordan Whitfield, Unsplash

As summer temperatures continue to rise and people flock to local beaches to cool off, a microscopic organism poses a large threat to swimmers, wildlife, and pets.

Blue-green algae blooms are a natural phenomenon, caused by the rapid growth of cyanobacteria. While not technically algae, these bacteria can photosynthesize, giving them their blue-green colour. While cyanobacteria occur naturally in freshwater, the increasing frequency and severity of these blooms is causing concern for scientists.

Increasing water temperatures as a result of climate change as well as nutrient loading from increased precipitation, agricultural runoff and dated septic management systems encourage the growth of blue-green algae, and are causing blooms to flourish in areas they have not been historically seen.

The main cause for concern with blue-green algae blooms is the potent toxins the bacteria release. Termed ‘cyanotoxins,’ these compounds are toxic to humans, pets and wildlife and can cause severe illness and even death. The Government of Ontario advises members of the public to steer clear of confirmed or suspected blue-green algal blooms, assume toxins are present, and report the bloom using their online reporting tools or by calling the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change.

Report a suspected blue-green algae bloom in Ontario here:

Submit a report online, or call the Spills Action Centre 24 hours a day, 7 days a week:

Toll-free: 1-866-MOE-TIPS (663-8477)

Toll-free TTY: 1-855-889-5775

Every summer, the Center for Great Lakes Literacy program opens applications for local educators to embark on a one of a kind research expedition while working with scientists to learn more about environmental issues in the Great Lakes. Each year the program highlights a different Great Lake, with the 2024 expedition focusing on Lake Erie.

This year, Brienne May, a fifth grade math and science teacher from Pennsylvania, was one of the lucky few selected to board this voyage. Passionate about physics and chemistry, May was inspired to explore the world of environmental science through working on a team that was tasked with developing the new Science, Technology & Engineering, Environmental Literacy & Sustainability standards for Pennsylvania.

“Somebody said, ‘kids know so much about these animals that live all over the world – in Africa and in the rainforest – but they don’t know anything about the diversity of life in their backyards, and that really spoke to me,” dit May.

This led May to apply for the Center for Great Lakes Literacy program, and ultimately delve into the world of plastic pollution.

“It turns out there’s a lot of plastic, especially in Lake Erie, because there is plastic production in Erie, Pennsylvania,” said May. “I thought I knew about microplastics. Every single one of us, as we took our turn looking into the microscope, stepped back and said, wait, are you kidding? To look under the microscope and see a bright purple or bright red piece of plastic that you could not see sitting in that petri dish with your eyes was shocking.”

May thinks these experiences will make her a better teacher, as the new science curriculum standards for Pennsylvania are adopted. “These new science standards that we have that we just recently adopted in Pennsylvania are a complete shift from what we were doing before. We’re not asking kids to be able to list facts. We’re asking kids to think like a scientist,” she said. “To see how questions are asked, how data is analysed, how surprising things are dealt with, and how obstacles are overcome in real-time with scientists who didn’t know that they were modelling those things for us? For me, that was really impactful.”

Next year the Center for Great Lakes Literacy program will focus on Lake Michigan, with applications set to open in January of 2025. Interested applicants can join the Center for Great Lakes Literacy mailing list to be kept up-to-date on the latest developments.