The Newport Aquarium has what is believed to be the largest Alligator in the country, on loan from a private collection in Florida is the 14 foot long 800lb aptly named Mighty Mike. The large gater will be on display at the Aquarium until late spring at which time he will be transported to an outdoor exhibit at the Michigan Zoo.
Mighty Mike has become somewhat of a story in the conservation world as he was spotted in the wild living near a boat dock in a lake in Florida. Large Alligators are determined by the state of Florida to be a threat to people and the Florida FWC ordered him destroyed as is law in that state. The trapper however saw something bigger at work.
The trapper contacted local expert Bruce Shwedick and asked him to give the monster a home, Bruce did so and has maintained the Alligator ever since, naming it after the trappers son Mike.