Reggie's back!

"I think people are tired of the war and all the other news right now. People are clinging to this story. Everybody loves Reggie."
Janice Hahn

The security tape was quickly being put up, politicians stood nearby, television crews were setting up their cameras, all while helicopters hovered over Lake Machado CA. Why, you may ask? All this activity meant only one thing, local celebrity, Reggie the alligator had been spotted again after more than 18 months in seclusion.
Reggie made quite a splash there when "he" was first spotted in the summer of 2005. There had been numerous wranglers called in that summer, including groups from Gatorland and Steve Irwin to capture him but the alligator outwitted them to remain the local icon. Reggie is so popular that he is featured in a 2005 children's book by Angi Ma, "Reggie, the L A Gator" which she was busy autographing at the park, as well as other books and songs.
Ex LA police officer Todd Natow and his friend Andrew Brewer had been charged with dumping Reggie after he grew too large for a backyard pool. Los Angeles City Councilwoman Janice Hahn stated that the city is still trying to collect the $180,000 spent already on public safety, including a 24 hour patrol, relating to Reggie's first appearance, from the two men. Hahn's office is also on the phone in a search of wranglers who might be able to capture Reggie this time and fielding calls for media interviews.
The discussions now center not only on what to do with Reggie but also, is this even the original alligator. Russ Smith, reptile curator at the Los Angeles Zoo is solidly with those who doubt it is the same 6-7 foot long alligator stating "There's no way he could have avoided detection." Tim Williams, alligator expert of Gatorland in Orlando FL disagrees since it is a large lake, 63 acres, surrounded by floating vegetation that would provide a location for Reggie to hide in. Although he said it is a 50-50, toss up, "What would surprise me is if someone else had another 6-7 foot alligator to dump out there."
The advice given now to the city council is to just let Reggie stay unmolested for awhile and try baited traps in the near future instead of wranglers. If any of this is successful, Reggie may well be enjoying life in a zoo afterwards in the near future. Reggie's first day of renewed celebrity ended as he slipped under the water at about 2:30pm.

"I think he is a very, very shy gator"
Felix Quint, Long Beach CA resident

As to where Reggie has been for the past 18 months....... is it possible he was visiting relatives in Florida or just shyly hiding from his fans?