Aug 21, 2009 11:28 am US/Central
Alligator Caught Along River's North Branch
Someone Spotted Alligator Near Damen, Fullerton
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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This alligator was found on a rock along the Chicago River's North Branch, near Damen and Fullerton avenues.
Chicago Herpetological Society
Crews captured an alligator on the North Branch of the Chicago River, shortly after someone spotted the reptile on a rock near Damen and Fullerton avenues.
The 3-foot alligator is now in the care of the Chicago Animal Care and Control. Crews from that department and a Chicago reptile expert came out to search for the alligator and found him early Friday morning.
"They have a very nasty set of teeth in there, and not that this could kill an adult human being, but a child could have a tough time dealing with those type of teeth clamping onto it," a representative of the Chicago Herpetological Society said as he showed off the captured animal.
The alligator is not in bad shape for all that it's been through. It has a fat tail -- an indication it wasn't starving.
Someone observed the reptile under a large rock near the Damen Avenue bridge Thursday.
The Chicago Herpetological Society will find the alligator a new home after he is checked out by Animal Care and Control.
Officials believe the reptile was a pet that was released in the wild after becoming too big.
This is not the first time an alligator has been captured along the Chicago River. A much larger one was discovered on the South Side about a year ago.
In June 2008, crews pulled a 45-pound alligator from Bubbly Creek, the South Fork of the River that is so named because was once known for putrid entrails that were dumped there from the Union Stockyards. But it was never before known for live reptiles.
Witnesses named the alligator "White Sox." She too was taken by the Chicago Herpetological Society.
The STNG Wire contributed to this report.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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