A small alligator was discovered Wednesday by a kayaker fishing in a Pennsylvania lake, according to local outlet 6 ABC.
Ricky Sanchez was fishing at Magnolia Lake in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, when he made the discovery, 6 ABC reported. Sanchez told the outlet he realized he’d caught the small reptile after he “brought it closer.”
“I hooked onto something and I brought it closer and I was like, ‘Oh no, that’s a gator. That’s definitely a gator. That cannot be here,’” Sanchez said.
“[I was] excited but pretty spooked because I’ve never caught an alligator before,” he added.
Sanchez captured video of the encounter, which was posted online by township police, according to 6 ABC. In the video, the small reptile appears to thrash in the water before breaking Sanchez’s fishing line. Before realizing it was an alligator, Sanchez thought he’d caught a small fish, FOX 29 reported.
According to both outlets, Kyle Asplundh, a Bucks County native who runs Jupiter Alligator and Wildlife Sanctuary in Florida, saw video of the incident, was in the area and helped secure the reptile.
“It’s only like half an hour away, so I decided I’d wait until dark, when it’s easier to catch these animals. And I’d come down and try for myself. At night their eye shine is very apparent when you shine a spot light on them,” Asplundh explained to 6 ABC.
“I was able to get close to it and then I was able to secure it and put it in the car,” he continued.
Asplundh called the Bucks County Park Rangers to inform them he’d secured the alligator and would be taking the reptile to his wildlife sanctuary, FOX 29 reported. (RELATED: Alligator Mauls 12-Year-Old Girl Playing In Shallow Water)
The Bristol Township Police informed area residents of the reptile’s presence in an Aug. 7 Facebook post.
“We have been made aware of a small alligator that is swimming in the area of Magnolia Lake. We have notified the Wildlife and Game Commission, who will be addressing this situation. Please use caution and avoid using the creek until it’s safe,” police said.
Following the reptile’s capture, Bucks County Park Ranger Chief Patrick Durkin thanked Asplundh for his assistance, according to Philly Voice.
“Bucks County Parks and Recreation and the Park Rangers thank Mr. Asplundh for his help in bringing this unusual incident to a close,” Durkin said.
The outlet indicated that when alligators show up in Pennsylvania, it’s because they have either escaped or been abandoned by their owners.