CHEBOYGAN — The Cheboygan Police Department reunited a man with his alligator after motel staff found the animal in a room.
Workers at the Pine River Motel called to report the discovery of the alligator March 14 while cleaning the room after a guest had checked out, according to a police department statement.
An officer arrived at the hotel room and determined the owner of the alligator had several exotic animals that he used for demonstrations and assemblies for elementary school children, the release said.
The officer contacted the owner by phone, who said they knew the alligator, Wally, was missing but didn’t know where or when it had escaped, the release said.
The owner returned to Cheboygan to pick Wally up and the Pine River Motel allowed the animal to stay in the room until he arrived, the release said. The alligator was reunited with its owner that evening.
The staff at Bishop Baraga helped the CPD with their investigation and the Cheboygan County Animal Control assisted them on scene, the release said.