The search for an alligator in the Humboldt Park Lagoon should trigger a serious conversation about the types of pets that Chicagoans can safely and legally keep in their homes, Mayor Lori Lightfoot said Thursday.
“People have exotic tastes in pets and then, the pets get big. And then, they lose their interest. So I think the larger conversation that we have to have is about people being realistic about the kind of pets that they can bring into their home,” Lightfoot said.
“Alligators can be very dangerous. They can travel on the land at great speeds. And we want to make sure that nobody in that community was injured.”
As the volunteer who goes by the name of “Alligator Bob” remained “on the case,” as the mayor put it, Lightfoot maintained a sense of humor about that hunt that has captivated Chicagoans and become social media fodder for animal-lovers around the nation.
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“I’m following Gator-gate, yes. And my hope is that we’ll be able to locate the alligator and make sure that people in the surrounding communities are safe,” the mayor said.
“It’s always an urban myth that there’s alligators here, there, climbing out of toilets and things like that. When I saw what I think was a real picture, I was pretty surprised….Initially, I thought, `Is this really real?’”
The “Alligator Bob” Lightfoot referred to has been at the lagoon for hours on end since the reptile was spotted. A carpenter by trade, Bob — he doesn’t give a last name — has been a volunteer since the 1970s with the Chicago Herpetological Society. He’s been part of several successful local alligator rescues — by his count, about a half-dozen in the past decade.
The Block Club Chicago news website has spearheaded a naming contest, but Lightfoot isn’t entering.
“I don’t have an opinion about the name,” the mayor said. “I just hope that the alligator is found and that no one is injured and that we relocate it to a zoo or some other proper venue.”
The alligator was first reported to authorities about 7:20 a.m. Tuesday in the 1400 block of North Humboldt Drive, said Jenny Schlueter, a spokeswoman for Chicago Animal Care and Control. Chicago police, animal control and Illinois Conservation Police responded.
Authorities believe someone likely dumped the gator once it became too big to keep as a pet.
Five traps have been set in the water, baited with chicken, rat and fish. A flying drone also was brought in to help with the search.
Alligators are not to be bred, sold or offered for sale in Illinois, according to state law. Possession is allowed only with a special use permit, and permits are intended only for alligators that are used “for bona fide educational programs, following an inspection and approval of the proposed facilities.” Violation of the law is considered a Class A misdemeanor.
Abandoning an animal also violates state law, and is a Class A misdemeanor for a first offense; repeat offenses can be treated as a felony.
Contributing: Nader Issa, Dave Struett
