For years, urban legends have told of alligators lurking beneath New York City. While that remains a myth, in Florida, it’s a reality. The Sunshine State’s storm drains are home to not just alligators but an entire ecosystem of urban wildlife, according to new research.
A study published in Urban Naturalist reveals that nearly three dozen species—including raccoons, bats, and even birds—use Florida’s stormwater sewers to navigate city landscapes, much like the underground world of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
A Hidden Wildlife Highway
In Gainesville, University of Florida researcher Alan Ivory and his team placed motion-activated cameras in storm drains to see what was moving below the streets. Over 60 days, they recorded nearly 3,800 sightings of 35 different animal species.
While some creatures, like possums and rats, were expected, the footage also captured unexpected visitors—tree frogs, armadillos, and even Carolina wrens carrying nesting material. Raccoons were the most frequent guests, appearing over 1,800 times. Myotis bats, which were previously unknown to roost in storm drains, were spotted nearly 700 times.
Then there were the alligators—caught on camera 50 times. Some simply used the tunnels as shortcuts between ponds, but others displayed clever hunting techniques, herding fish into dead ends for an easy meal.
Not All Creatures Find It Easy to Escape
While many animals thrive in Florida’s underground network, some struggle to get back out. Heavy rains often wash snakes and toads into the tunnels, where they can become trapped. The study suggests adding small ramps to help these creatures climb to safety.
The southeastern myotis bats, now known to roost under manhole covers, also face potential danger. If a flood were to hit during their roosting period, they could be washed away.
Ivory believes small modifications could make these human-made tunnels safer for wildlife, just as Florida has built specialized crossings to protect the endangered Florida panther.
A Wild World Beneath Our Feet
The researchers suspect that Florida isn’t unique in this phenomenon—storm drains in other cities may also serve as secret highways for wildlife. While urban planners focus on building infrastructure for people, nature is quietly adapting to it in unexpected ways.
So, while New York’s underground alligators may be a myth, in Florida, they’re a well-documented reality—just one part of the surprising and thriving ecosystem hiding beneath city streets.