MAYNARDVILLE, Tennessee (AP) — A fisherman at a lake in northeast Tennessee caught a surprise at the end of his line when he pulled up a 3- to 4-foot long alligator. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency said their Union County wildlife officer Rick Roberts got a call from the angler on Monday describing the unusual catch at Norris Lake. When Roberts arrived, the angler had pinned the alligator to the ground behind its head and told Roberts he caught it on a swim bait. Alligators are not native to that part of Tennessee and are considered Class 1 wildlife species, which are those that are inherently dangerous to humans and may only be possessed by permitted exhibitors or commercial propagators. Matthew Cameron, regional communications coordinator for TWRA, said the alligator was taken to Little Ponderosa Zoo and Rescue, an exotic animal rescue facility in Clinton, Tennessee. “While the origin of the alligator is unclear, it is evident that it was being illegally held in captivity and possibly released into Norris Lake,” Cameron said in an email. Cameron said the zoo doesn’t normally house alligators, so the operators are looking for a permanent home for the alligator. |
Movement of pilot's seat a focus of probe into LATAM Boeing flight, report says2 Walk and Cycle Conference: Government's transport approach a 'head wind' to progressNikki Haley Wins District of Columbia's Republican Primary, Gets Her First 2024 VictoryBlack mould and septic overflow: What tenants are dealing withAustralian foreign aid worker among five killed in Israel airstrike on GazaHK records 1st virus death, toll over 420Roaming dogs kill up to 30 cats in one suburb as residents live in fearProbe after teens die in offSpeed reduction reversal welcomed by West CoastPence says he will not endorse former boss Trump in 2024 US election