Alligators, snakes, and more—Researchers left shocked by thriving sewer jungle in this US city
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“It’s like something out of ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.’ The abundance of animals down there was surprising,” said Alan Ivory, a PhD student at the University of Florida and lead researcher of the study, published in Urban Naturalist.
Wildlife Captured on Camera
To understand how animals use the sewer systems, researchers installed 39 motion-activated cameras inside drainpipes, fastening them beneath manhole covers. The cameras operated for 60 days, capturing nearly 3,800 animal detections. However, not all cameras survived. “We would have raccoons steal cameras every now and then. They would climb up the ladders and tear them off the manholes,” Ivory said.
The footage revealed a variety of species, including armadillos, black rats, possums, tree frogs, and 12 types of birds such as Carolina wrens, some of which were seen carrying nesting material. Raccoons were by far the most commonly spotted, appearing in over 1,800 recordings. Southeastern myotis bats, seen nearly 700 times, appeared to be using the sewers to roost under manhole covers—a first-time discovery for the species.
Alligators Using Underground Tunnels
Alligators were among the most notable inhabitants. Researchers recorded 50 sightings, with most showing the reptiles swimming between ponds instead of crossing roads. “Of the 5 sites, 4 of the sites where alligators were observed
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