BOISE, Idaho — An Idaho resident was walking their dog Thursday evening when they discovered an alligator moving in the brush, says Idaho Fish and Game (IFGD).
IFGD Southwest Region spokesperson Brian Pearson said the resident put the alligator in a nearby horse trailer until Idaho Fish and Game conservation officer could pick it up on Friday morning. According to the Associated Press, the department has the animal in captivity for now, but Pearson said it will be euthanized or given to a licensed facility unless the owner is located.
Fish and Game is investigating where the alligator may have come from, and anyone with information is asked to contact the Southwest Regional Office at 208-465-8465 during normal business hours, or the Citizens Against Poaching hotline at 1-800-632-5999.
“In all likelihood, this alligator got loose from someone, and we are interested in finding the owner,” said Regional Conservation Officer Matt O’Connell.
According to IFGD, without proper permits, it is illegal to possess alligators (or any crocodilian) in Idaho, and it is illegal to release captive crocodilians into the wild.
Alligators are a creature commonly found in the coastal wetlands of the southeastern U.S., but certainly not native to Idaho.
