East Tennessee Fisherman Gets a Surprising and Unexpected Catch

Imagine heading to your local creek for a relaxing day of fishing and feeling a big tug on your line. It's exciting to see what you've caught, but what if when you reel it in you realize that you've caught a 4-foot-long alligator!

On Monday, March 18th, a Union County Wildlife Officer in Tennessee received a phone call around 5PM from a man saying that they'd caught an alligator, and the officer thought it might be a joke. The caller said they were fishing in Dotson Creek on Norris Lake when they realized what they had caught.

WATE.com, a Tennesse television channel, reported that wildlife officials are not sure how the alligator ended up in East Tennessee since they are not native to the area. Officials believe the alligator was brought in from another state and released in the lake, both of which are illegal. Officials also said that residents shouldn't be concerned for their safety, as the alligator was taken to the Little Ponderosa Zoo in Anderson County.

Related: Alligator Enters Louisiana Home Through the Doggie Door Like It Owns the Joint

Facts About Pet Alligators

Was this somebody's pet that ended up getting too big for them to care for? Although considered an exotic pet, in many states you can legally own an alligator. I don't know why anybody would want a pet alligator, but you technically could have one. One PetHelpful article states, "Alligators should only be maintained by experienced reptile owners, but their danger is really overstated. They are relatively easy to care for if there is space for a moderately sized, temperature-controlled pond."

Geo Zoo shared some facts about keeping an alligator that are very interesting. The cost to raise an alligator from a hatchling to an adult cost an average of around $4000. But that's not including their enclosure and food (they eat up to 2 pounds of meat a day.) "Alligators are carnivores and will eat anything they can catch, including fish, frogs, turtles, and small mammals. They are most likely to hunt at night, when their prey is most active. Some breeders feed their alligators live animals to help them stay healthy and strong. Others may give them frozen or processed meat instead."

Alligators can grow up to ten feet in length and weigh more than 800 pounds. They can run 10 miles an hour; this isn't usually a concern though since they normally only run to catch prey and would prefer to crawl along slowly. I don't know about you, but having a pet that can run faster than me and could eat me alive doesn't sound like a very good pet!

While it might seem like fun to have a pet alligator, especially a baby alligator, they do not enjoy being held or cuddled. Just one more reason that an alligator in your backyard probably doesn't make the best pet.

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