An alligator was captured along the Monongahela River shoreline near Southside Riverfront Park on Saturday afternoon. The gator was about three feet long and weighted around 10 pounds. "There were a couple of people fishing down here on the Mon River and they called into 911 about how an alligator was loose along the trail. This was a first in my career," Waterways Conservation Officer Matthew Raetsch said.Officers said the alligator was likely a pet that someone released into the wild. Raetsch said when people release them into the wild it creates a serious public safety risk. Pittsburgh Public Safety and the Fish and Boat Commission rescued the alligator. The alligator was taken to Humane Animal Rescue. It was not injured and appeared to be healthy.Officials said the alligator was slightly overweight, which leads the officers to suspect that the alligator was eating well by the banks of the Monongahela.The alligator will stay at Humane Animal Rescue until a shelter or refuge is identified for relocation.

An alligator was captured along the Monongahela River shoreline near Southside Riverfront Park on Saturday afternoon.

The gator was about three feet long and weighted around 10 pounds.



"There were a couple of people fishing down here on the Mon River and they called into 911 about how an alligator was loose along the trail. This was a first in my career," Waterways Conservation Officer Matthew Raetsch said.

Officers said the alligator was likely a pet that someone released into the wild.

Raetsch said when people release them into the wild it creates a serious public safety risk.

Pittsburgh Public Safety and the Fish and Boat Commission rescued the alligator.

The alligator was taken to Humane Animal Rescue. It was not injured and appeared to be healthy.

Officials said the alligator was slightly overweight, which leads the officers to suspect that the alligator was eating well by the banks of the Monongahela.

The alligator will stay at Humane Animal Rescue until a shelter or refuge is identified for relocation.