Local News

Live Alligator Pulled From Chicago River

CHICAGO (CBS) ― Workers on the South Side got a big surprise Friday afternoon when they spotted an alligator in the Chicago River.

As CBS 2's Mai Martinez reports, after the shock wore off, experts had to be called in to wrangle the gator.

Hours after being pulled out of a part of the Chicago River known as Bubbly Creek, the 45-pound alligator was still not happy about her new digs. But the workers who first spotted her swimming around sure were. Anthony austin was among the group of employees from midland metal manufacturing out enjoying lunch by the river when they noticed the 4 and a half foot gator.

"And there it was, and it just surprised everybody," witness Anthony Austin said. "It was just swimming. Just swimming like it was in its normal habitat."

"Right away everybody started screaming whatever, hollering you know," said witness Leo Nunez.

The workers quickly called 311 to report the gator. Animal Control then contacted the Chicago Herpetological Society, which specializes in the capture of reptiles.

"Somebody either captured it down in Florida, brought it back up here decided it was too dangerous to handle, or raised it from a hatchling and then decided they didn't know what to do so they just dumped it into the river here," an expert who helped with the capture said.

The Chicago Herpatological Society estimates the alligator has only been in the Chicago River for about a week. They say they know that because of the lack of build-up of algae on her scales.

The gator, which is believed to be about 5 years old, was given the name "White Sox," disappointing at least one of the people who spotted her.

"They called him 'White Sox' because he's out here on the Sox side," Nunez said.

When asked about her namesake's chances of winning the Crosstown Classic, White Sox snapped and didn't seem too happy.

All joking aside, alligator wranglers say that kind of reaction shows why it was so important the alligator was caught.

"An animal this big would grab a small child and tow it down into the water and drown it," the expert said.

Those who spotted the gator say they know it could've been a much more serious situation, but it's hard to stop laughing about the lesson it's taught them.

"When you go fishing, watch out for alligators, that's what I'm going to tell them, especially in the Chicago River," Austin laughed.

The alligator wranglers say this was the first alligator ever pulled from the Chicago River.

In a few months, the alligator will likely be sent to a nature preserve in Florida or a zoo in Michigan.

It is illegal for people in the state of Illinois to own or possess an alligator.

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