Update: From NBC11News.com (Ashley Prchal):
Wednesday, a group of kids playing near the water at Riverbend Park raised the alarm when they say they spotted an alligator on the bank. They say their parents didn’t believe them, but a bystander did. “Everybody thought we were crazy. These ladies said we must be blind or seeing things. But this guy saw it too and he saw it go into the water. And he was trying to tell everyone we weren’t being crazy. We really did see it,” says Josie Brumfield.
From KJCT8.com (Tami Brehse):
Police say a woman called in and said she saw one swimming in the river near her dog. They didn’t find any sign of the gator on their search, but they say that doesn’t mean it’s not out there. “I’m not saying there was an alligator, I’m not saying there wasn’t an alligator,” says Officer Stephen Tonello, “but I will say the witness seemed credible.” The woman said when her dog went in the water, the alligator swam over by the dog. She called her dog out, then the alligator flipped its tail and swam downstream.
Was there a slide area where the gator entered the water? I’m not saying no gator exists but the bank should have had a tell tale slide mark in both reported sightings. Tail drag marks? We in Colorado might not be aware because gators are not “native” to our State but absent a good picture, what other evidence besides “seems like they were telling the truth” is there?
I was on the Amtrak on my way to Grandjunction on Aug. 31 and seen one crawl across a sand bar enter the water heading for shore.
There was a gator in the river I believe on a 4th July 2010 ? The owner of Rim Rock Rodeo place – out near Mack / Loma – brought in 2 illegal gators from La. (?)He had a break in and one was killed and one went in river ! DOW called me as to use my Hovercraft ( only I from here to SLC and Denver. Not right craft for hunt.
I am a Ret 59-82 USN SERE-POW Inst. / PI jungle JEST / VN Advisor / my exp Arctic to Amazon = NOT a gator hunter. Only know they are dangerous and edible in my survival world !. I can kill. That gator was caught nesr Palisade! ( date ? year ? )
Mtn Mel – Deweese. Be Prepeard – Tipi Camp – Unaweep Canyon since 1988.