OKC Zoo gators cheer for OU
Just in case you were wondering, no.
The alligators at the Oklahoma City Zoo most certainly are not cheering for the Florida Gators. They’re University of Oklahoma Sooner fans, of course!
Apparently, rumors about the gator’ loyalty began circulating at the zoo. The lions told the owls who told the buffalo who told the bears who told the gorillas that the gators were Florida fans. Of course, this got back to the gators, who were all very upset that their loyalty to the Sooner State had been questioned. So the gators typed up a petition requesting the mess be straightened out and turned it in to the zookeepers at a formal meeting.
Staff put these animal rumors to rest:
“Boomer Sooner!” the head gator said.
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Pets in the paper
Check out these animal stories in The Oklahoman today -
- - Rural Texas town to let authorities shoot strays.
- - Store has bone to pick. (Utah, page 12a)
- - Aging horse is given happier trails ahead. (Kansas)
- - Man arrested in gator thefts. (Louisiana)
- - Missing Texas dog found. (Kansas)
- - Vets rescue injured dog dragged behind vehicle. (Bristow)
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Man walks with alligator
I never could quite get my dogs leash trained, but this California man really has some animal training skills.
He recently walked into a bar with an alligator on a leash. My first question is: Why? My second question is: How?
Apparently people in the bar didn’t like the visitor and called police. When officers arrived at the bar, the alligator was already outside in a vehicle. They followed the man to his home where they impounded that alligator and another one he had since it’s illegal California to keep alligators as pets. Though I wouldn’t recommend keeping alligators as pets, I am somewhat impressed with his apparent training skills. I’m not impressed with his bravado.
- Staff Writer Dawn Marks
Presidential Pets
Throughout the years, presidents have shared the White House with a number of pets. It remains to be seen what kind of pet or pets will find a new home after the new president takes office. Barack Obama has agreed to adopt a pet after the election and John McCain is known for his large number of pets. The folks at Petfinder.com have done some research about the presidential pets of the past and a release from the organization states that nearly every president has had pets. Some even had small zoos. Here are some pets I found interesting.
- John Quincy Adams had an alligator. An alligator? In the White House? I wonder if he kept it in the bathtub.
- Abraham Lincoln had a turkey, Jack, for a pet after his son talked him out of taking it off the menu. So much for Thanksgiving dinner.
- John F. Kennedy had multiple pets, on of which was Macaroni, Caroline Kennedy’s horse. I wonder if the name came from the song “Yankee Doodle.”
- George W. Bush’s dog Spot was born in the White House. Now that’s a pedigree.
Staff Writer Dawn Marks
Happy Reptile Awareness Day!
I hope you enjoy some of our favorite reptile photos from The Oklahoman archives! Have a reptilian day!
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Swimming with Gators
Apparently it is illegal to swim naked with alligators. Who knew? Well this guy should have known, since he’s been accused of it more than once.
- Bryan Dean
Gator madness
It seems like lately there’s been a bizarre wave of gator hijinks. First, police pulled over a Texas man with a 6-foot alligator in his back seat. Imagine driving down the highway and noticing this:
Then, five kids were arrested for trying to steal a gator. I’m not a reptile owner, but I’m guessing that taking an alligator anywhere it doesn’t want to go is a bad idea. Everyone’s mad – the police and the reptile.
Long story short, let sleeping gators lie.
- Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
