Releasing family pets into nature isn't something done much anymore and, citing this catch as an example, the zoo's staff says it should stay that way.

"Some of the CU power plant people had noted there was an alligator in the water,” said Dr. Erica Wilson, a veterinarian at the zoo.

It was more reptile than rumor.

"He's actually approximately a year and a half to two years old,” said Wilson. "We just happened to be in the correct position, as he came over to us, that we were actually able to catch him."

The 'gator's cooperative attitude would be hard to gather from those beady eyes breaking the water.

"The most dangerous aspect of him is that he would have probably scared you more than anything,” she said.

It’s a first for Lake Springfield but the zoo's staff helped rescue two alligators from Stockton Lake over the last two to three years.

"More than likely he was dumped there,” said Wilson. “They are very, very cute when they're little but, once they get to a certain stage in life where they're big enough, the aggressiveness isn't cute anymore. People realize they don't make good pets."

They’re also not good Springfield residents.

"Because of the colder temperatures, if we had not gotten him out of the lake at this moment in time, he most likely would have frozen to death over the winter,” the vet said.

So he'll spend the winter above water, and out of our wakes.

The zoo already has two alligators, and doesn't want one more. They're in talks to move him to another habitat north of Springfield that is approved for alligator care.