Close Window It's no croc: 5-foot-long alligator found in Chicago River was probably a discarded pet Friday, June 20, 2008 CHICAGO - First there was a wily coyote in Chicago's downtown. Then an ill-fated cougar on the North Side. Now authorities have captured an alligator in the Chicago River.
An employee of a metal manufacturing company found the 5-foot-long (1.5-meter-long) reptile Friday in the river's South Branch.
Alligators are found in the U.S., but usually in warmer climes like Florida rather than this Midwestern city, which is the country's third largest.
The alligator didn't try to attack anyone and was safely pulled from the river by a reptile expert, said Anne Kent, director of the city's Animal Care and Control Department.
The alligator was probably a discarded pet, officials said. It's now in the custody of the reptile expert.
The alligator was probably attracted to the river by carp, Kent said.
A coyote surprised customers when it walked into a Chicago sandwich shop last year. And police shot and killed a cougar found roaming the city in April.
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I live near tampa florida...I lived there for about 5 years now.
I'm still scared to check my mail at night when I get home from work....
There is probably at least one aligator/crock story in the paper every week!
A couple months ago I was at the Publix food store and there was a truck that pulled up next to the parking spot next to me....it was an aligator trapper's truck. I didn't realize it until I got out of the car and read the sign on the truck. The back of the truck was like a big cage. I saw a few in the back and I almost messed myself right there!!!!
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The back of the truck was like a big cage. I saw a few in the back and I almost messed myself right there!!!! 
