Fiona Kelliher | Detroit Free Press

A 4-foot caiman alligator was rescued Monday from Lake Michigan after someone reported it swimming near Waukegan, Illinois.

"It is not every day someone reports an alligator in Lake Michigan and the report is true," wrote the City of Waukegan in a Facebook post.

Chicagoan David Castaneda was kayaking at about 9:30 Monday morning when he spotted what looked like a dead fish, he told the Chicago Tribune. He called 911, which led to Waukegan Police Animal Control and Larsen Marine Service, Inc. rescuing the caiman.

Caimans are part of the same family as alligators and crocodiles.

The animal is being moved to the Wildlife Discovery Center in Lake Forest. The Center houses a natural living history museum and works on a number of conservation efforts, including for several species of crocodiles.

The caiman's mouth was taped shut, and Waukegan will conduct an investigation into whether it was abandoned, officials said.