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Alligator Discovered In Campground Lake In Ocean County, NJ

JACKSON, N.J. (CBS) -- The Jackson Police Department announced that an alligator was found in a local lake on Monday. Police say the Memorial Day discovery was made around 4:10 p.m. when officers were on scene at the Maple Lake Campground.

Police were alerted to the sighting of an alligator in the lake and went out to the scene with the assistance of Animal Control.

Authorities say a young alligator, about two feet long, was taken out of the lake without incident. Officials say the American Alligator reportedly can grow to be somewhere between eight and 11 feet long.

Police believe that someone living in the area owned the alligator as a pet and released it into the lake as it continued to grow.

The alligator is now with a licenses exotic reptile handler as officials decide what to do with the alligator.

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