OTTAWA COUNTY, Mich. — Many have reported seeing what they believe is an alligator floating through Crockery Lake in Ottawa County. We asked the Michigan DNR to tell us what they know.
Lt. Gerald Thayer, of the Law Enforcement Division, says they can't confirm nor deny the gator allegations. There have been no pictures to prove it, but there have been a variety of apparent sightings.
The first happened on Sunday, when a fisherman spotted it near Grose Park.
Thayer says he "wouldn't be surprised" if there was a gator. He says, like many other animals not native to Michigan, many people keep them as pets and release them into nearby natural areas.
The DNR has units on the water, along with animal control and the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office, ready to help if there are any run-ins. Crews will also be performing patrols all week looking for the gator.
That may seem like a lot of law enforcement. Thayer says this is because alligators are such a rarity in Michigan, there is no protocol for what division has responsibility in this situation. They want to be prepared to handle it effectively, no matter who is in charge.
Although they're obviously preparing for the worst, Thayer says there isn't too much cause for concern. Alligators aren't aggressive unless provoked.
He asks residents and park visitors to take caution and keep your eyes peeled. An alligator can easily be mistaken for a softshell turtle, he says.
But if you do spot the gator, the DNR says they want to see your photos of it. You can send your sightings to their website here.
Thayer says they hope to find the alligator before the weather gets colder. If it comes to spring and there is no positive identification, the DNR will have to consider it dead.