BOISE, IDAHO (AP) – It’s not uncommon for Idaho wildlife officials to be called for help when a moose, mountain lion, black bear or other wild animals wander into one of the state’s rural communities.
But Idaho Fish and Game officials are asking the public for help with a particularly unusual find – a one-metre alligator that was discovered hiding in the brush of a rural neighbourhood about 64 kilometres northwest of Boise.
Southwest Region spokesperson Brian Pearson told the Idaho Statesman that a New Plymouth resident was walking their dog on Thursday evening when they noticed something moving in the brush. Further investigation revealed the alligator – a creature commonly found in the coastal wetlands of the southeastern United States, but certainly not native to Idaho.
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. The department has the animal in captivity for now.
