An alligator was reported swimming in Lake Michigan this week. A four-foot caiman alligator to be exact.

A Chicago resident was kayaking Monday morning when he thought he saw a dead fish. He called 911, which led him to Waukegan Police Animal Control. The then had the alligator rescued. The gator is being moved to a Wildlife Discovery Center.

According to Wikipedia, these animals are part of the same family as alligators and crocodiles. They inhabit Central and South America in swamps, marshes, rivers, and lakes. They range in size from 4 feet to 16 feet long, so I guess this gator would be considered small.

While their diets consist of mostly fish, caiman alligators will eat small mammals, insects, or birds. It's a good thing the man called 911, this could have been dangerous if it came too close to a beach.

Am I the only one who didn't know alligators came up to colder climates?

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