Several alligator farms in the southeastern United States reported an unusually high number of alligator deaths between 2001 and 2003. WNV was determined to be responsible for many of these deaths. Blood samples from infected alligators revealed high titers (some of which were higher than the titers in reservoir host bird species) for WNV. Considering that an adult alligator’s hide is too thick for mosquitoes to penetrate (except for a few areas of soft tissue, such as inside the mouth and around the eyes), what are some other ways in which  he alligator might have acquired WNV?