Baby alligator found on bike path near Brainerd

Baxter resident Daniel Fundingsland found the baby alligator Saturday when he was biking down to Crow Wing State Park on the Paul Bunyan Trail. He said it was sunning itself on the path. (Submitted)

July 14, 2016 at 9:16 AM

Forum News Service

BRAINERD, Minn. - It’s not everyday the Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office gets a call about a citizen finding an alligator.

Yes, an alligator. Not a big one, but a baby alligator.

“We’re all quite shocked,” Crow Wing County Sheriff Todd Dahl said of finding a baby alligator. “It’s quite interesting, that’s for sure. You don’t get these calls every day. … In my 30 years in law enforcement this is my first time getting this type of call.”

The sheriff’s office received a report at 12:28 p.m. Saturday of an alligator on the bike path near Brandon Way in Barrows, a small town about five miles southwest of Brainerd.. Dahl said someone was riding their bike when they saw the alligator walking on the path.

The sheriff’s office attempted to find out who owned the alligator as deputies thought it could have been someone’s pet, but they were not successful. Dahl said they called Safari North Wildlife Park, but it wasn’t theirs. However, the alligator’s new home is the wildlife park, located south off Highway 371.

Baby alligator found on bike path near Brainerd

Forum News Service BRAINERD, Minn. -- It's not everyday the Crow Wing County Sheriff's Office gets a call about a citizen finding an alligator. Yes, an alligator. Not a big one, but a baby alligator. "We're all quite shocked," Crow Wing County Sh...