I live on the northern shore of Western Lake and have seen many alligators over the years. Mostly during mating season bUt not always.
A couple of years ago, there was a rather large gator spotted in Western Lake and someone called the county. They dispatched the Gator Hunter and he set a couple of traps along the shore consisting of a large hook on a rope with a chicken impaled and tied to a tree. He asked that I check it every day and called me every day to see if it was still there.
One day, I went to look at the line and it was completely submerged and still. I called him and he came and pulled out a 10' gator. I have a great picture of Baba.peering at him in the bed of a truck.
So, yes, there are gators in our lakes!