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05/01/2007: "You Can't Keep A Good Gator Down"
We've all heard the urban myth of the pet alligator who, having been flushed down the toilet, not only survives but thrives in the bowels of the city, creating a serious threat to sewer workers. Here in SoCal, we had our own living version of the myth back in the summer of 2005 when someone released a gator that had outgrown the owner's bathtub (and his patience) into the lake at Harbor Regional Park. The gator, dubbed "Reggie", became quite a media star as several individuals made very public and very unsuccessful attempts to catch him. Ultimately, Reggie disappeared and was believed to have gone into hibernation. But when the spring and summer of 2006 passed without any gator sightings, the worst was assumed.
Fear not! The Menace of Machado Lake, Reggie The Alligator, made an appearance yesterday after nearly 18 months in seclusion. Needless to say, he made quite a splash as maintenance workers rushed to re-install the orange safety fence that used to surround the lake during the heyday of Reggiemania. The call has once again gone out for gator wranglers, and golfers have been warned of an extra hazard that just might be sunning himself on the sixth fairway of the adjoining golf course.
Frankly, I was surprised to see some of the negative reaction of residents to Reggie's return. It sounds like there's a significant number of folks who'd just as soon see him dispatched with a 30.06 round rather than try and save him for the zoo. Personally, I think he has as much right to the lake as we do, and he's managed to survive there for two years without hurting anyone. Safety concerns dictate that he be moved out, but I think he deserves better than a bullet between the eyes. Heck, considering how polluted that lake is, we should be glad he didn't come back as Regzilla ... 
