Latest news with #AlanIvory
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Researchers baffled after making unexpected discovery inside state's sewers: 'The abundance ... down there was surprising'
Forget urban legends about sewer alligators — in Florida, they're very real. A new study revealed that these underground tunnels are packed with gators, raccoons, and dozens of other animals using the pipes to move around cities, reported The Independent. Researchers from the University of Florida set up camera traps in Alachua County's stormwater sewer systems. Their study, published in Urban Naturalist, found at least 35 different species, including reptiles, birds, amphibians, and mammals. Raccoons and bats native to the southeastern U.S. made up a lot of the sightings, but the cameras also caught sight of opossums, armadillos, squirrels, egrets, toads, and even a few stray cats. "The abundance of animals down there was surprising," study co-author Alan Ivory from the University of Florida told the New York Times. Seven types of reptiles also showed up on camera, with American alligators being the most common. Most of the reptiles were found in sewer spots that held water for more than half the study period. The study's researchers explained that sewers act as pathways for urban animals — some use them as shortcuts between ponds, while others rely on them to avoid busy roads. Researchers warned that their numbers might not even tell the full story, since the cameras only captured animals warmer than their surroundings, potentially missing some reptiles and amphibians. Wildlife turning to sewers for safe passage serves as a reminder of how urbanization is disrupting natural habitats. As forests and wetlands make way for highways and strip malls, animals are left with limited options for finding food, water, and safe routes. This forces them into human-made structures that can trap or harm them. In fact, researchers found that several small animals appeared to be swept into sewers after storms carry large amounts of water into the system. Climate change is only making things worse. Rising sea levels, stronger storms, and habitat loss are pushing more wildlife into urban areas. That means encounters between humans and displaced animals — some of which aren't exactly friendly — could get more common and more dangerous. Ultimately, avoiding conflicts with animals comes down to respecting them by setting boundaries so they can do the same. Do you worry about air pollution in and around your home? Yes — always Yes — often Yes — sometimes No — never Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. "If the people living with carnivores can be supported and given what they need to coexist, then human-carnivore coexistence is possible," Jen Miller, international program specialist for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, told BBC. "Coexistence is happening successfully all over the world, even in the face of climate change." Researchers suggest simple fixes like exclusion devices and ramps in sewers to help animals get out safely. Bigger picture, we need urban planning that actually considers wildlife, like green corridors and dedicated crossings. Protecting wetlands and natural habitats is also key to keeping animals from turning to storm drains in the first place. Fighting climate change is part of the solution, too. Cutting pollution, preserving green spaces, and supporting policies that protect wildlife can help curb these encounters. Making cities safer for animals doesn't just help them — it also makes urban areas cleaner, healthier, and a little less wild. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
University Of Florida Researchers Said They Found An 'Abundance' Of Alligators In A Very Surprising Place
It sounds like a whopper that your gampy would tell, but this one is totally real: There are alligators living in the sewers in Gainesville. A recent study conducted by the University of Florida found that the sewer systems designed to hold stormwater are home to a lot more than rain runoff. 'It's like something out of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles," Alan Ivory, a Ph.D. student at the University of Florida, who led the study told the New York Times. 'The abundance of animals down there was surprising.' The American alligator, also known by its scientific name, Alligator mississippiensis, was among seven types of reptiles found in the storm sewage systems. There were plenty of other critters turning the sewers into a home, too. The team used motion-activated trail cameras to monitor the animal activity around stormwater drains over the course of two months. They found that there were 35 different animal species, including armadillos, snakes, frogs, lizards, moles, raccoons, and 12 species of birds, all using the sewers either by choice or seemingly by accident after being swept in by rain. The animals all appear to be using the sewers as they learn to live in "human-modified environments", according to the study, which was published in the journal Urban Naturalist. The alligators and their three dozen other kinds of animal friends use the sewers under the Florida city to travel around the urban environment in peace reportedly. The clever critters have apparently learned that the sewers are safer than busy roads. According to the researchers, the gators were seen using the sewers to get from pond to pond far from humans. Maybe they haven't heard that gator bites don't actually contain any gator bits. Read the original article on Southern Living
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
‘Abundance' of Alligators Found in Florida Sewer System: ‘Like Something Out of 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles''
Florida's sewer systems have been playing host to alligators. A study conducted by the University of Florida found that the stormwater sewer systems beneath Gainesville contained a total of 35 different animal species, including armadillos, frogs, raccoons and yes, alligators. The study exhibits a shift towards "human-modified environments" as urbanization and development progress. Related: Large Gathering of Alligators in Georgia River Unnerves Onlookers — and Prompts Investigation Alan Ivory, a Ph.D. student at UF, spearheaded the study. While the movement of rats throughout underground systems is well-studied, the patterns of other animals — who use the tunnels as pathways to navigate an urban landscape — is far less researched. 'It's like something out of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles," Ivory told the New York Times. 'The abundance of animals down there was surprising.' The team carried out the study by using 39 motion-activated trail cameras attached to manhole covers on 33 stormwater drains. Across roughly two months, the cameras collected data — though some fell victim to storm water or thieving raccoons, Ivory said. The American Alligator, also known by its scientific name, Alligator mississippiensis, was among seven types of reptiles found in the storm sewage systems and was "documented across the greatest number of sites." Related: Alligator Caught on Camera Making 'Himself at Home' at Florida Residence: See the Video Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The data in the study suggests that many of the animals use the storm sewage systems to avoid crossing busy roads or other highly trafficked areas. Others, mainly small animals, may have been found in the sewers after being swept there by runoff water. 'Of the five sites, four of the sites where alligators were observed were simple culverts, and for this reason, most of the alligator observations were of animals swimming from one pond to another (35 of 50 observations), thereby avoiding crossing busy roads,' the study read. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Researchers find 'abundance of animals' in Florida city's sewers
Feb. 18 (UPI) -- A team of University of Florida researchers said they were shocked at what their cameras discovered in the sewers of Gainesville: an "abundance of animals," including alligators. Alan Ivory, a doctoral student and lead author of the research published in the journal Urban Naturalist, said he and his team set up 39 cameras in 33 stormwater sewers in Gainesville in an attempt to document the use of the underground tunnels by wildlife over a period of 60 days. The researchers ended up with 3,800 sightings of 35 animal species, including 50 alligator sightings. "It's like something out of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles," Ivory told The New York Times. "The abundance of animals down there was surprising." Ivory said the gators mostly seemed to be using the sewers as passageways between ponds, but some appeared to be using the tunnels to hunt for fish. "It's almost as if they were cornering the fish into this dead end, using the human infrastructure to help them forage," Ivory said. The research team said they also documented about 1,800 raccoon sightings -- and the animals would sometimes walk off with the cameras. "We would have raccoons steal cameras every now and then," Ivory said. "They would climb up the ladders and tear them off the manholes." Other animals caught on camera included bats, armadillos and 12 species of birds.
Ammon
18-02-2025
- Science
- Ammon
Scientists ‘surprised' to find abundance of alligators in Florida's sewer system
Ammon News - The sewer systems of Florida are teeming with an 'abundance' of alligators, racoons, and a dozen other animals using the drain pipes to traverse the city, scientists reveal in a new study. Wildlife across the world are forced to navigate human-altered environments as rapid urbanisation continues. A new study, published in the journal Urban Naturalist, examined how wild animals use Florida's well-connected subterranean stormwater sewer systems (SSS). Researchers used camera traps to find how wildlife exploited this pathway, particularly in the state's Alachua County. Overall, scientists found a total of 35 species of vertebrates using the sewer system to navigate, including amphibians, reptiles, and birds. 'The abundance of animals down there was surprising,' study co-author Alan Ivory from the University of Florida told the New York Times. Seven species of reptiles were also found, including the American alligator species Alligator mississippiensis 'documented across the greatest number of sites'. Most of the reptiles were found at sites that held water for more than half of the study period, researchers said. Some reptiles, including the turtle species Yellow-bellied Slider, appeared to be using the pipes as corridors between ponds, scientists said. The study suggests several animals are using the sewer system to avoid crossing busy roads. A few other animals, especially smaller ones, appear to be swept into sewers after storms carry large amounts of water into the system, researchers say. 'Of the 5 sites, 4 of the sites where alligators were observed were simple culverts, and for this reason most of the alligator observations were of animals swimming from one pond to another (35 of 50 observations), thereby avoiding crossing busy roads,' scientists wrote. Raccoons and small bats native to the southeastern US made most of the observations in the sewer system, pointing to their widespread presence in the subterranean pipes. Among other animals spotted by the camera traps included, possums, armadillos, cats, black rats, squirrels, egrets, wrens, and toads. 'Our research offers a comprehensive exploration of vertebrate diversity within an unconventional urban habitat and provides valuable insights into the relationship between SSS and species utilisation patterns,' scientists wrote.
