BRISTOL TWP., Pa. (WPVI) — Magnolia Lake in Bucks County is known for fishing and kayaking, not alligators.<\/p>\n
But that changed Wednesday when a North Philadelphia angler hooked an unexpected catch.<\/p>\n
“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,” said Ricky Sanchez, who was fishing from his kayak when he spotted the reptile.<\/p>\n
Sanchez’s video of the encounter, posted by township police, quickly gained attention. The footage shows the small alligator thrashing in the water before breaking Sanchez’s fishing line.<\/p>\n
“Excited but pretty spooked because I’ve never caught an alligator before,” Sanchez said.<\/p>\n
Among those who saw the video was Kyle Asplundh, who runs Jupiter Alligator and Wildlife Sanctuary in Florida.<\/p>\n
A Bucks County native, Asplundh happened to be visiting the area and decided to help.<\/p>\n
“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,” Asplundh said. “At night their eye shine is very apparent when you shine a spot light on them.”<\/p>\n
With decades of experience handling alligators, Asplundh located the four-foot-long American alligator and secured it.<\/p>\n
“I was able to get close to it and then I was able to secure it and put it in the car,” he said.<\/p>\n
County officials said park rangers kept the animal overnight before releasing it into Asplundh’s custody. It will eventually be relocated to his sanctuary in Florida.<\/p>\n
Asplundh believes the alligator was likely a pet that became too difficult to manage and was released into the wild.<\/p>\n
“This animal is definitely not a pet. I have hundreds of these animals and I would never consider any of them my pets,” he said.<\/p>\n
While the alligator may have survived the summer in Pennsylvania, Asplundh noted it would not have endured the colder temperatures.<\/p>\n
County park rangers thanked Asplundh for capturing the animal and ensuring its care.<\/p>\n
Locals, meanwhile, hope future catches at Magnolia Lake are limited to fish.<\/p>\n
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