Good news is in store for the alligator that was discovered in Lake Michigan over the weekend. It looks as though it may make a full recovery as it is being cared for at the Wildlife Discovery Center in Lake Forest, Illinois. Curator Rob Carmichael said that now, "a day after the rescue, the alligator is weak and listless. But I’ve seen worse, so I’m pretty optimistic." The animal is being kept under close watch in warm water and under the warmth of heat lamps to improve its metabolism, according to Freep.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has stated that tropical alligators can't survive for long in cold water like Lake Michigan. The reptiles are most active when temperatures are 82 to 92 degrees, and will stop feeding when temperatures drop below 70 degrees. The animal is undergoing a full veterinary checkup today that will determine its sex and weight, while the WDC will review its' blood work and seek out potential illnesses. After recovery, it's most like going to be housed at the Discovery center, where there are already to alligators


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