Florida Woman Fights To Keep Clothes-Wearing Gator Pet

LAKELAND, FL — Measuring about 6 feet in length and weighing in at 125 pounds, Rambo isn’t your ordinary pet. But then again, Lakeland’s Mary Thorn isn’t exactly your ordinary pet owner.

The former professional wrestler has a passion for alligators that developed at a young age. She’s been around the critters since she was 2. “My brother owned a fish hatchery,” she explained. She helped pull stray gators out of the pond and quickly developed a passion for the prehistoric-looking critters.

Perhaps it was her lifelong affinity for the creatures that led her to say yes when Rambo and several other small gators needed rescuing 11 years ago. Or, maybe it was fate.

Whatever the case, Rambo came to live with Thorn when he was 4. When he and his companions were placed in Thorn’s care, they were in a deplorable condition, she said. It seems Rambo and his companions had been kept together in a 10-gallon tank, stored in a dark closet.

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While Rambo’s companions have since passed away, he continues to thrive, Thorn said. Set to turn 15 in April, the gator is more of a companion than a pet, she said.

“He’s my baby,” Thorn said.

While skittish at first, Thorn said the coldblooded creature’s heart began to warm after he was with her for about three years. Since then, she’s been able to train him to wear clothes. He also likes to give hugs, helps himself to items in the refrigerator, eats at the table and visits schools and charity events to educate people about his species. Rambo’s even been known to ride a motorcycle, is potty trained and likes to swipe an occasional Butterfinger candy bar if Thorn has them around the house.

“The things I do with gators, nobody else has done,” she said.

The unusual bond between the two may soon be broken, and not by Thorn’s choice. While she’s licensed to keep an animal like Rambo, her residential property in Lakeland doesn’t quite classify as the 2 ½ acres the state of Florida says she needs to keep the creature, several media outlets have reported. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's Gary Morse has confirmed the case is under investigation.

"I cannot comment on the investigative issues other than to say that captive wildlife regulations are necessarily complex and protect the health and wellbeing of the animals and those who care for or come in contact with it," Morse told Patch.

Thorn says the agency has told her Rambo must go to a facility better equipped for his care. She also said there is an issue with her license due to an improper address accidentally being placed on the forms. She chalks up the clerical error to being her fault, but insists Rambo doesn’t need or want 2 ½ acres to roam.

While Thorn says she wants what’s best for Rambo, she doesn’t think taking him away from her fits the bill. “Rambo and I are all we’ve got,” Thorn said. “If I lose him, I don’t know what I’m going to do.”

She’s also not sure how Rambo would take the separation since the two are inseparable, she said. “He comes hunting me if I get out of his sight,” Thorn said. “When I get home, he’s right under my feet.”

She’s also concerned for his health. Rambo, Thorn said, is extremely light sensitive and sunburns very easily.

“He’s a person, not a gator,” she said. “He needs somebody to take good care of him and that’s me.”

Whether the state will ultimately agree or not is still up in the air. FWC did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Patch.

Thorn said she's not entirely sure what her options are. She's working to get the clerical error fixed, but isn't sure just how to overcome the land requirement. Taking the issue to court, she said, isn't something she can afford. But, she's trying to do what she can to keep Rambo by her side. She's hoping sharing her story will help.

As for those who purposely fish alligators out of ponds and lakes to keep as pets, Thorn says “that’s just cruel.”

Photos courtesy of Mary Thorn