Andover Animal Control Responds To Alligator Call, Turns Out To Be Toy

ANDOVER, MA — Andover Animal Control responded to what at first seemed like a dangerous call but turned out to be, let's say, a false alarm.

Officers were dispatched to Deer Jump Reservation on a report of an alligator. They met the callers by a trail.

"Nervous to get too close, (the callers) described what they were able to see before we ventured in," Animal Control wrote on Facebook. "Once we arrived in the area, our excitement turned to belly laughs as we picked up toy gator who was very well camouflaged and placed to look like the real thing!"

The officers removed the toy "to prevent others from having mini panic attacks while walking the trails." They added that this was "a FABULOUS reminder as to why you should always keep your dog leashed."

Surprisingly, this was not the first alligator call in the area, and Animal Control doesn't expect it will be the last.

"You never know what kind of creatures you'll come across in the woods, thankfully this one was made of rubber instead of scales."

View photos at Andover Animal Control's Facebook page.