A man in south suburban Lansing kept an alligator at his
house for over two decades without neighbors knowing, according to authorities.
The 6-foot-long alligator spent most of its 26 years in a
cage of the basement of Charles Price’s house, according to Illinois Department
of Natural Resources Spokesperson Chris Young.
However, Price "put it out periodically in his back
yard. No one knew he had it, no one had ever seen it,” IDNR Sgt. Bill Shannon
told The Chicago Tribune Saturday.
The animal was noticed earlier this month by an appliance
repairman who had been working in Price's basement, Young said. The worker
noticed something moving in a covered container, so he lifted the cover, took
photos of the reptile and contacted Lansing Police Department's animal control.
Shannon got word of the alligator and contacted
conservation police Officer Roberto Macias and an alligator specialist known as
"Bob."
"It was every bit of 200 pounds," Shannon told
the Tribune.
Lansing police Chief Dennis Murrin Jr. also told the
publication: "In 25 years, I've never had anything like it.”
