MILFORD — An alligator should still be unfastened in a Kensington Metropark lake, regardless of a large search effort.
After an preliminary reported sighting of an alligator in Kent Lake on Thursday, a hunt for the reptile started that concerned Metroparks police, in addition to the Oakland County Sheriff’s Workplace, Oakland County Animal Management, Michigan Division of Pure Assets, and Detroit Zoological Society.
Metroparks communications specialist Danielle Mauter stated the search continued till shortly after midnight, with drones, ATVs, boats, and a helicopter all in use, and she or he thanked all responders for his or her in depth efforts.
“Regardless of everybody’s greatest efforts and real collaborative spirit, we have been unable to identify or find the alligator,” Mauter stated in an announcement simply earlier than 10:30 a.m. Friday. “There have been questions on dimension, which we cannot affirm from the one reported sighting. At the moment, we shall be preserving our eyes open and seeing if the doable alligator makes one other look, and we’ll go away the warning indicators in place for the general public’s help with any sightings as effectively.”
She added that each one areas of the park stay open. The sighting occurred in an space of the lake not open to swimming, and in addition an space that’s “lesser used” for boating.
The indicators on the park warn, “Be Conscious. Attainable alligator sighting in Kent Lake,” and advise guests that if folks see an alligator, to name the Metroparks Police at 810-227-8910.
Mauter famous that “if this sighting is actual, it’s most definitely the results of somebody releasing a pet alligator into the lake,” since alligators aren’t native to Michigan.
“We ask guests to make use of warning and never strategy the animal whether it is noticed, and to as a substitute name the Metroparks Police on the quantity posted on indicators instantly,” she stated, including, “We remind guests that pets or wildlife of any sort shouldn’t be launched and relocated to the Metroparks.”
If an alligator is certainly on the unfastened in Milford, it will not be the primary time.
In July 2019, a 4-foot alligator named Puff escaped from the Milford Township dwelling the place he had lived together with his proprietor for eight years. Puff, who broke his tether within the entrance yard and went for a stroll down Commerce Highway, was recaptured by neighbors and police earlier than he made it to a drainage ditch. Somewhat greater than a yr later, he discovered a brand new dwelling on the zoo.
Milford has additionally been dwelling to Darwin, an emu who escaped throughout a COVID-19 stay-at-home order, however was safely returned.
Contact reporter Susan Bromley at sbromley@hometownlife.com or 517-281-2412.