A 5-foot-long American alligator was spotted in Humboldt Park, a public park in Chicago, Illinois. The discovery was made by a park-goer who reported the sighting to authorities.
The alligator was later confirmed to be an American alligator, a species native to the southeastern United States, not typically found in Chicago's parks. This unusual sighting raised concerns about the safety of park visitors.
The Chicago Department of Animal Control was alerted and responded to the scene, taking steps to safely capture and relocate the alligator.
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The Alligator in Humboldt Park
The infamous alligator in Humboldt Park was a 5-foot-long reptile that caused quite a stir in Chicago.
It was finally caught after nearly a week on the run, with the help of a Florida gator expert named Frank Robb.
The alligator, affectionately named "Chance the Snapper", was caught overnight with a fishing hook.
It's believed that the alligator was left in the park by someone who owned it as a pet, which is illegal in the state of Illinois.
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The city's Animal Care and Control agency said they have about one alligator-related incident each year, despite the animal not being native to the region.
Here are some key facts about the alligator:
The alligator's capture was a team effort, involving the Chicago Police Department, Animal Care and Control, and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Conservation Police.
It's worth noting that owning an alligator is a misdemeanor in Illinois, and releasing a pet into a public park is also against the law.
Alligator Discovery
A 4-foot-long alligator was found in the Humboldt Park lagoon.
Chicago police confirmed the alligator's presence after a caller alerted officials through a Facebook post.
The reptile was spotted in the lagoon by a park visitor, and a reptile specialist was searching the water to catch it.
The alligator was likely released in the pond by a pet owner, who is not allowed to keep an alligator as a pet in Illinois.
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A reptile specialist, Robert, also known as Alligator Bob, from the Chicago Herpetological Society, was trying to humanely capture the gator.
He used a fishing line and a few tools in a canoe to try and catch the alligator.
The alligator was between 4 and 5 feet long, and was humanely trapped overnight.
It was taken to a local zoo for veterinary evaluation.
The city has about one alligator-related incident each year, despite the animal not being native to the region.
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