Owner found living in storage container with nearly 7-foot alligator

LAKEBAY, Wash. (KOMO) — A 6'7" alligator was rescued from a property in Lakebay, Washington after animal control received a complaint about a person living with the animal.

Animal Control officials stated the owner was living inside a shipping container with a small tub inside for the alligator.

In the state of Washington, it is illegal to possess an alligator.

A very sick baby cow and a mattress for the 32-year-old owner to sleep on were also found inside the container, according to officials.

“The back half was a little living room and mattress on ground where the man was sleeping and it was free access for the gator to come in and out of the tub next to the man,” said Sgt Darren Moss Jr.,Pierce County Sheriff's Department's Public Information Officer.

Officials say they returned the next day with a warrant to seize the animals, however, the calf and owner were gone but the alligator was still there. Animal control along with sheriff's deputies was able to wrangle the large animal into a van.

Animal control believes the alligator had been living at the residence since at least 2017.

The alligator was taken to the Tacoma Humane Society where a wildlife rehabilitation sanctuary met them to take over custody.

The sheriff's office said the gator is in good health and will now spend the rest of his life in a larger habitat.

Joan Nix, who lives on the same street, was stunned to hear about an alligator in the neighborhood. Their street is divided into 5-acre parcels in a very wooded area.

“I was very shocked to hear there was an alligator in the neighborhood," Nix said. "It kind of worried me because I have a foal that could have gotten eaten."

Nix says she couldn’t help but think of the what-ifs but said she hadn’t heard or seen the alligator. Nix said she is new to the neighborhood. Her family moved in less than two years ago.

“It's putting people at risk, pets at risk," Nix said. "It's pretty scary. They're illegal for a reason. That's a little worrying. I wonder what else is running around out here."