King County Animal Care and Control removes alligator from home in Kirkland

Owner faces possible misdemeanor charge

King County Animal Care and Control executed a search warrant and removed a nearly four foot long alligator named "Bruiser" from a home in Kirkland Friday morning. Representatives from the Woodland Park Zoo and Kirkland Police Department assisted as Animal Control Officers removed the alligator from an unheated enclosure in the garage.

Kirkland Municipal Ordinance 8.04.060 adopted King County Code (KCC) 11.28.030, which prohibits the possession of exotic animals without a permit. Exotic animals are defined in KCC 11.28.020 to include "...the order of crocodilian; alligators, crocodiles, caiman and gavials." Possession of an exotic animal may be a misdemeanor offense.

The owner fully cooperated with Animal Control Officers, and the Alligator was transferred to a reptile specialist in Monroe who is equipped to foster the animal until a suitable home can be found.

For pictures of the alligator, visit the King County photo pool.