Unexpected Wildlife Sightings Across Oklahoma

Hey! Your animal guru here!

If there's something involving animals in Oklahoma, I'll likely hear about it. But even with how obsessed I tend to be, I am still always surprised to find out what animals might be hiding around the state.

I'm not talking about your typical bison (not buffalo), Texas Longhorn, or horny toad. These animals are the ones you'll likely hardly ever see, or you might not expect to see here in a plains state. But as they say, wilder things have happened.

Rare Wildlife Spotted at Quartz Mountain State Park

Earlier today, officials at the Quartz Mountain State Park caught rare footage of a wild otter running to get to the water near Lake Lugert in Altus, Oklahoma.

Despite the fact that much of western Oklahoma is suffering from extreme drought conditions currently, aquatic wildlife are still thriving.

The Hardest Animals to Spot in Oklahoma

Some wildlife is even harder to spot than otters. Though it's been years, some have seen the famous red spotted toads in select areas of Oklahoma, like in the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge.

"In Oklahoma, red spotted toads inhabit grasslands, oak woodlands, and floodplains along rivers or streams," according to the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.

READ MORE: Are You Seeing Road Runners In Oklahoma? Here's What It Means

When you do visit large bodies of water in Oklahoma, most of us worry more about catfish, snakes, or even spiders that walk on water. But, in certain parts of the state, you should also be very wary about... alligators.

Yes, Alligators Are Native to Oklahoma

I wish I were joking, but just last year, an alligator was spotted doing some fishing in Pushmataha County in the southeastern part of the state. Despite the fact that Oklahoma is a plains state, alligators are actually native to southeast Oklahoma.

You'll hardly ever find them west of Tulsa, but it isn't impossible. Nearly a decade ago, a 100-pound alligator was caught in Rush Springs, Oklahoma, in the south-central part of the state.

It marked the first time an alligator had ever been found in Grady County. How often might that happen? We may never know, especially if we continue to see little to no rain.