Current:Home > MarketsAlligator on loose in New Jersey nearly a week as police struggle to catch it-DB Wealth Institute B2 Expert Reviews
Alligator on loose in New Jersey nearly a week as police struggle to catch it
View Date:2024-12-23 20:36:54
An alligator seen roaming around a New Jersey borough is still on the loose.
The 3- to 4-foot-long reptile was first spotted last week in a park in Piscataway, just outside of New York City, the Middlesex Borough Police Department reported.
Local residents said they'd spotted the alligator on Monday morning, News 12 in New Jersey reported. The station said that one man, who didn't want to be identified, reported seeing a duck on a pond in the park get pulled under the water without resurfacing, calling it “very traumatic."
Police closed the park for 72 hours starting Monday afternoon "until such time that the alligator is no longer deemed a threat."
Gator Nation:'Well I'll be:' Michigan woman shocked to find gator outside home with mouth bound shut
Unsuccessful capture efforts
Police say the alligator was first spotted on Aug. 23, and an officer was unable to catch it on Thursday. Officers who spotted the alligator again on Saturday night also were unable to capture it.
One of the officers even shot "a safe discharge" from his gun "in an attempt to neutralize" the gator at close range, police said in a news release on Monday. Police don't know whether the gator was shot.
Police also have called in the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to capture the reptile and relocate it to a more suitable habitat.
What to do if you see the gator
The police department has advised residents to not approach or try to capture the reptile, but instead call the police department immediately at 732-356-1900 or 911.
If you hear an alligator hiss, it's a warning that you are too close and that you should back away slowly, according to the Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife.
Alligators have a natural fear of humans, and usually retreat quickly when approached by people.
Gators don't require much food. In the summer, a large alligator may only eat once or twice a week, munching on insects, snails, frogs, small fish and sometimes birds.
More:'All hands on deck': 500-pound alligator caught during Alabama hunting season
Other alligator sightings in New Jersey
Alligator sightings in Central New Jersey are uncommon but not unprecedented. Most often they are pets that escape captivity.
In September 2018, a baby alligator was found in the Middlesex township of Old Bridge. Dogwalkers found the reptile at the end of a street in a wooded area, Old Bridge police said.
Police netted the animal and waited until animal control officers arrived.
Earlier this month outside Reading, Pennsylvania, a 2 ½-foot alligator named Fluffy was washed away from an outdoor pen at home in a flash flood and eventually found in a nearby creek.
Email: [email protected]
Mike Deak is a reporter for mycentraljersey.com. To get unlimited access to his articles on Somerset and Hunterdon counties, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
veryGood! (2567)
Related
- Jennifer Garner Details Navigating Grief 7 Months After Death of Her Dad William Garner
- How Today’s Craig Melvin Is Honoring Late Brother Lawrence
- Man serving life for teen girl’s killing dies in Michigan prison
- Spook-tacular 2024 Pet Costumes: Top Halloween Picks for Dogs & Cats from Amazon, Target, PetSmart & More
- Katherine Schwarzenegger Gives Birth, Welcomes Baby No. 3 With Chris Pratt
- Disney-DirecTV dispute extends into CFB Week 3, here's the games you could miss
- Police killing of an unarmed Nebraska man prompts officers to reconsider no-knock warrants
- McDonald's $5 Meal Deal staying on the menu in most markets until December
- FSU football fires offensive, defensive coordinators, wide receivers coach
- Will Ferrell reflects on dressing in drag on 'SNL': 'Something I wouldn't choose to do now'
Ranking
- Wendi McLendon-Covey talks NBC sitcom 'St. Denis Medical' and hospital humor
- Actor James Hollcroft Found Dead at 26
- Joe Schmidt, Detroit Lions star linebacker on 1957 champions and ex-coach, dead at 92
- Florida school district must restore books with LGBTQ+ content under settlement
- Father sought in Amber Alert killed by officer, daughter unharmed after police chase in Ohio
- Norfolk Southern Alan Shaw axed as CEO after inappropriate employee relationship revealed
- Tua Tagovailoa suffers concussion in Miami Dolphins' game vs. Buffalo Bills
- 1 person shot during scuffle at pro-Israel rally in Boston suburb, authorities say
Recommendation
-
Mega Millions winning numbers for November 8 drawing: Jackpot rises to $361 million
-
Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Cold Play
-
New York City lawmakers approve bill to study slavery and reparations
-
Maryland woman is charged with vandalizing property during protests over Netanyahu’s visit to DC
-
A $1 billion proposal is the latest plan to refurbish and save the iconic Houston Astrodome
-
Will Ferrell reflects on dressing in drag on 'SNL': 'Something I wouldn't choose to do now'
-
Colorado mass shooting survivor testifies the gunman repeated ‘This is fun’ during the attack
-
California man arrested after allegedly assaulting flight attendants after takeoff