A Tennessee fisherman reeled in a big one. It turned out to be an alligator

MAYNARDVILLE, Tennessee (AP) — An angler in northeast Tennessee caught a surprise when he was fishing at a lake. Stuck on his bait was a 3- to 4-foot long alligator, which are not native to that part of Tennessee. A Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency arrived on Monday at Norris Lake to find the alligator pinned to the ground behind the head. A spokesperson for the wildlife agency says the alligator was taken to a nearby exotic animal rescue facility and while the origin of the alligator isn’t clear, it is evident that it was held illegally in captivity and possibly released into the lake.

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MAYNARDVILLE, Tennessee (AP) — A fisherman at a lake in northeast Tennessee caught a surprise at the end of his line when he pulled up a 3- to 4-foot long alligator.

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency said their Union County wildlife officer Rick Roberts got a call from the angler on Monday describing the unusual catch at Norris Lake. When Roberts arrived, the angler had pinned the alligator to the ground behind its head and told Roberts he caught it on a swim bait.

Alligators are not native to that part of Tennessee and are considered Class 1 wildlife species, which are those that are inherently dangerous to humans and may only be possessed by permitted exhibitors or commercial propagators.

Matthew Cameron, regional communications coordinator for TWRA, said the alligator was taken to Little Ponderosa Zoo and Rescue, an exotic animal rescue facility in Clinton, Tennessee.

“While the origin of the alligator is unclear, it is evident that it was being illegally held in captivity and possibly released into Norris Lake,” Cameron said in an email.

Cameron said the zoo doesn’t normally house alligators, so the operators are looking for a permanent home for the alligator.

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