The small alligator spotted last week in Magnolia Lake has been captured.
Bucks County Park Rangers took custody of the roughly four-foot reptile without incident Thursday evening after it was captured by Kyle Asplundh, of Jupiter Alligator and Wildlife Sanctuary.
The Rangers received the animal at about 10:30 p.m. from Asplundh, a Florida resident who grew up in Bucks County. The man reported that he had captured the male alligator in the area of Magnolia Lake, and in speaking with Rangers he indicated that he would like to take it to live at his alligator sanctuary.
The alligator spent the night with the Rangers and was returned to Asplundh this morning for safe keeping.
“We are happy to report that the alligator seen yesterday in Magnolia Lake has been safely captured by a person who has experience with these animals,” said Park Ranger Chief Patrick Durkin. “Bucks County Parks and Recreation and the Park Rangers thank Mr. Asplundh for his help in bringing this unusual incident to a close, as well as Bristol Township Police for their assistance.”
Bucks County Parks and Recreation manages Magnolia Lake as part of the Silver Lake Nature Center. Alligators are not native to Bucks County, and it is not immediately clear how it came to be in the lake in Bristol Township.
PHOTO: Chief Bucks County Park Ranger Patrick Durkin looks on Friday morning as Kyle Asplundh, a former resident of Bucks County who runs an alligator sanctuary in Florida, handles a small alligator he captured Thursday evening from Magnolia Lake in Bristol Township.