An adult male suspect has been identified for posting false alligator warning signs in Montgomery county parks, with charges pending.
According Montgomery County Park Police, “The Maryland-National Capital Park Police are aware of unauthorized signs warning residents about the presence of alligators in local bodies of water. This information is entirely false, and the unauthorized signs have been removed by staff. There are no alligators in this area. Any claims about a managed alligator hunt or alligator-related
warnings are purely fictitious.
We encourage residents to verify information through reliable sources, including official county communications, and avoid sharing unverified claims that may cause unnecessary alarm.
An adult male suspect has been identified for posting the signs, and charges are pending. The Park Police would like to hear from anyone who has observed these signs or anyone putting them up in Montgomery Parks. Please contact The Maryland-National Capital Park Police Criminal Investigations Unit’s Tip Line at 301-929-2748 or [email protected].”
Update: The Montgonion, Montgomery County’s satirical news site, provided us with the following update: “Park Police delivered a $50 uniform civil citation to The Montgonion publisher yesterday evening for ‘posting notices on park property without a permit.’ Their officers were quite cordial, even offering to give back the signs, but did a poor job suppressing their giggles. We remain steadfast in our commitment to protect Montgomery County citizens from local alligators in a state of brumation.”
The sign, which was shared by Park Police and can be seen in full below, states the following: “DO NOT DISTURB THE ALLIGATORS. Our alligators are not dead or sleeping. This time of year, alligators enter “brumation”, the reptile version of hibernation. They may remain immobile for days, their metabolism slowed to the bare minimum. But don’t be fooled! They are easily startled, fast, and very dangerous! Do not feed and keep small children and pets from the water’s edge. Maryland Department of Herpetological Resources.”
