Officials in New Jersey have warned local residents to stay away from a lake after a large alligator was spotted in the north-eastern US state, far away from its natural range in the country.
The 3ft long gator was spotted in a local creek and then Victor Crowell park in the state, prompting its closure while authorities mounted a search for the creature. One police officer even fired a shot at what they thought was the alligator, but it is unknown if the officer hit the target.
“Citizens are strongly urged to stay away from Creighton Lake and the Ambrose Brook and should NOT approach or make attempts to capture the alligator,” the police chief Matthew Geist said Monday, according to NBC New York.
Alligators are native to a large swath of the US and common in states like Florida, where occasional attacks on humans are reported. It is not known how this alligator ended up roaming New Jersey.
