Meanwhile, in the midwest….

A relaxing Sunday on Lake Erie turned into panic for a local family when Erie resident Stina Roach spotted what appeared to be a 4 to 6-foot alligator, according to an article at goerie.com. Initially thinking it was fake, Roach quickly realized it was real and called the nonemergency police line and a nearby bait shop. The Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission was notified, and animal trapper Paul Kaiser was brought in to handle the situation. The Erie-Western Pennsylvania Port Authority is focused on public safety and hopes the alligator, if real, is safely removed. If it’s a toy, further investigation will follow. The sighting was first reported on Facebook, prompting a community response, and is believed to be an exotic pet.

Feature photo: Stina Roach