ATHENS, Mich. (Michigan Back Roads) – Looking for a spring day trip that is really different? Consider a visit to the Alligator Sanctuary in Athens, Michigan. That’s right, Michigan has an Alligator Sanctuary, and it is home to more than 100 alligators and other reptiles.
They’re rescues!
The reptiles are all rescue animals. Some were brought to Michigan by tourists, spring breakers, or by other means when they were little. As luck would have it, they don’t remain little, they grow, and they can get very big.
When that happens, some people call the sanctuary. Other people discover an alligator in a local pond where it was released because someone could no longer handle it. Either way, the good folks at the Alligator Sanctuary will spring into action, rescue the poor critter, provide a home and care, and a great home it is.
Let the training begin.
When an animal arrives at the sanctuary, it is examined and brought back to a healthy condition if necessary. Then training begins. Alligators are remarkably intelligent, and the sanctuary strives to showcase the learning abilities of the alligators. However, there’s no wrestling or anything of that sort.
Alligators respond to the names they are given. They can be trained to respond to specific colors. They hear better than dogs and can distinguish specific sounds like the difference between “Ned” and “Ted.” If there are a group of alligators in a pond, the trainer can hold up a ball of a specific color, and say “Come.” Only the gators that have been trained with the color blue will respond. The others, trained with a different color will not respond.
Plan your visit.
A visit to this facility is fun. You get up close with not only alligators but bearded dragons, tortoises, and other reptiles. The alligators are housed in an open park-like setting with hyacinth ponds and other water features. You will meet Spot, Tom, Gracie, and others. They will come when called by a trainer and, thankfully, will stop when told to do so. If you’re there at the right time you may even get to see some babies in the nursery.
The Critchlow Alligator Sanctuary is located at 1698 M 66 in Athens. It is open in late April and you can find out more information here.
