Harford County Deputies Rescue Abandoned Alligator With Taped Mouth

An alligator with its mouth taped shut was found abandoned outside a reptile shop in Forest Hill, Harford County, Maryland. Deputies from the Harford County Sheriff's Office responded late at night and found the alligator alive, friendly, and docile, indicating it had likely been a pet. With temperatures near freezing, authorities believe the animal would not have survived without their intervention. Maryland law prohibits owning alligators as pets, and local code bans animal abandonment, prompting an ongoing investigation. The alligator was secured on scene, and a local reptile rescue was contacted to facilitate rehoming at a zoo or rescue facility. Authorities have asked the public to provide any information regarding the incident.