Gator Caught—in Chicago?

Five-foot reptile apprehended in the Chicago River; probably a discarded pet
By Harry Kimball,  Newser Staff
Posted Jun 21, 2008 5:32 AM CDT
Gator Caught—in Chicago?
An adult alligator.   (AP Photo)

Alligator wranglers may not be the busiest of folks in metro Chicago, but they came through yesterday by yanking a 5-foot unwelcome visitor out of the Chicago River, the Tribune reports. The healthy female, probably a discarded pet, is on her way to a sanctuary in the Southeast.

“Everyone feels it was someone's pet and they just threw it in,” said one official. The gator—the first known visitor of its kind to the river—appeared to be fine shape, perhaps because of the ample supply of carp living in that part of the river, a secluded industrial zone. Tough as it is, the gator probably could not survive a Chicago winter, meaning it was likely dropped off recently. (More alligator stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X