Annie the alligator doing fine in Petaluma

Terry Hankins Bonnie Cromwell holds Annie, an alligator found in Oakley and placed with Cromwell until a home can be found for it. Zoom Photo

The search is on for a permanent home for orphaned Annie, a 40-inch alligator found July 15 on the banks of the Sacramento River in Contra Costa County. Meanwhile, the 8-pound reptile is doing fine at a ranch in Petaluma.

Annie is being cared for by Bonnie Cromwell, owner of Classroom Safari and a board member of both the Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue Center and Sonoma County Reptile Rescue. Annie was brought to Petaluma after shocking a passing motorist as he sunned on the river bank.

Cromwell named her visitor Annie, not for the cartoon character, but because she was found near the town of Oakley.

“She is doing fine,” Cromwell said Monday, although she acknowledged that finding a permanent home for Annie is something of a challenge.

She explained that alligators can only be released to facilities licensed for their care. “There are a lot of people who might want to take in an alligator, but don’t have a clue about what they are getting into with an animal that can grow to anywhere from 400 to 1,500 pounds,” she said.

“There are several places around that are licensed to take alligators, but they already have alligators and can’t take any more,” she added.

She said she isn’t sure how long it is going to take to find a home for Annie. “I hope it doesn’t take five years,” she joked. A more realistic expectation is about a year.

Annie is healthy and growing in her foster home, although Cromwell would like to find a larger habitat than her current small tank so her guest can climb in and out of the water.

“Right now, the only time she gets out of the water is when I take her for a walk,” Cromwell explained. “I would like to find someone to donate a watering trough that is about six feet across so we could fix a place where she could climb out whenever she is ready. Alligators spend a lot of time in the water, but I would like a place where she could get out when she’s ready, and not just when I have the time to take her out.”

Cromwell shows her reptiles and other animals at schools and makes other education presentations, and Annie has already made classroom appearances.

“She has been quite a hit,” Cromwell said. “She’s not really wild. Alligators are generally pretty laid-back and Annie is pretty docile.”

Annie is the second alligator at the ranch, joining 21-inch Sarah. Cromwell calls Sarah, who has been with her for about a year, “the baby of the family.”

Sarah is in Petaluma to stay, but Annie will some day be moving on. Meanwhile, Cromwell said she is not a problem.

“Feeding is no trouble,” she explained. “I buy frozen mice and fish and she loves them.” And Annie seems to be thriving on her frozen dinner diet.

(Contact John Jackson at acsports@arguscourier.com)