Piscataway police: At-large alligator caught in Possumtown neighborhood
An at-large alligator was caught by Piscataway police officers in the Possumtown neighborhood after 10 p.m. Thursday.
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An at-large alligator was caught by Piscataway police officers Thursday night in the Possumtown neighborhood.
Authorities say a young man was driving home from work at around 10 p.m. when he spotted the animal in the road near Second Avenue and called 911.
Multiple officers responded to the call, captured the animal and brought it back to police headquarters.
"They were able to corral it and contain it. They got the snare around it and then were able to get it in the car. It was a joint effort,” said Deputy Chief Michelle Pilch.
The state Division of Fish and Wildlife arrived at police headquarters around midnight and took it away.
WATCH: Piscataway police body camera video of alligator capture
The curator of the Cape May County Zoo told News 12 that the alligator will soon arrive at the facility. However, it will not be part of the zoo collection and will be isolated until it can be transported to Croc Encounters in Tampa, Florida.
Second Avenue is about two miles from Victor Crowell Park, where the alligator was spotted last week. It is possible that it traveled along nearby Ambrose Brook before making its way into the Piscataway neighborhood.
RELATED: Middlesex police: Alligator may no longer be in lake following week of no sightings
Officials believe someone owned the alligator as a pet and then released it into the wild when it became too big. It is illegal to own an alligator in New Jersey.
