Alligator still missing in Northland after ‘wild incident’ at middle school
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Parents in the Northland remain on the lookout for a missing alligator.
Kansas City Animal Control confirms the alligator got loose from a school event on Thursday and it’s still unaccounted for.
A spokesperson for Park Hill School District describes this as being a “wild incident,” and one they’ve never seen before. The 14-inch alligator vanished from a petting zoo at Lakeview Middle School on Thursday morning.
Kansas City Firefighters joined animal control workers on Thursday, searching the wooded area near the school. On Friday, they were still patrolling for the critter.
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The school district also gave a photo of the gator to FOX4. It shows the reptile with its mouth taped shut, a move meant to protect people. Park Hill Schools confirm the gator was part of an impromptu petting zoo at the school, and a means of celebrating the end of the school year. The district notified parents of the missing animal via email on Thursday evening.
“These animals are very quick. They can cover a lot of ground very quickly,” Tori Fugate, KC Pet Project spokesperson, said.
Fugate said animal control officers are still searching for the gator, and hopeful for tips from the public. Fugate also said the school district didn’t have a permit for the petting zoo, and the district might get a citation for that.
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“(The school) is right off 64th Street. There’s a grocery store across the street. There’s a lot of traffic. We’re concerned the animal is going to be hit by a car, unfortunately,” Fugate said.
Fugate and others are worried about the alligator’s safety, especially since its mouth is taped shut, limiting its ability to protect itself against predators.
If you have useful information that can help find this gator, please call Kansas City Animal Control. That agency accepts calls at 816-710-0101 or anonymous tips via its website.
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