A long-standing urban legend claims that blind, albino alligators roam the sewers of New York City. These fantastical creatures have become a staple of the city’s mythos, with some locals even commemorating Alligator in the Sewer Day every February.

Contrarily, in Florida, alligators in the sewers are a real phenomenon. These reptiles frequently make their way into drainage systems. For example, in late January, a 10½-foot alligator was rescued in Cape Coral after getting trapped in a storm drain.

Some alligators even deliberately navigate their way into sewers. Recent studies published in the journal Urban Naturalist indicate that alligators and nearly 35 other animal species utilize storm water sewer systems in a Florida city to safely traverse urban landscapes.

“It’s reminiscent of ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,’” remarked Alan Ivory, a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Florida leading the research. “The variety of wildlife found there was astonishing.”

While extensive research has been conducted on rats inhabiting sewer systems, the behaviors of other animals underground remain less explored. Mr. Ivory and his team hypothesized that these intricate tunnels, designed to redirect storm water and separate from sewage, act as crucial pathways for urban wildlife.

Focusing on the storm water sewers beneath Gainesville, Mr. Ivory and his colleagues installed motion-activated trail cameras equipped with magnetic mounts under manhole covers. In total, they deployed 39 cameras across 33 storm water drains.