A kayaker fishing for salmon off Waukegan Harbor on Monday morning found an unexpected animal in the water — a 4-foot-long American alligator. 
 
 Chicago resident David Castaneda had been paddling for about four hours when around 9:30 a.m. he saw something floating in the water, he said. Thinking it was a dead salmon, he went closer to check. 
 
 Instead, he saw an alligator head, Castaneda said. 
 
 “I went closer to see if it was real,” he said. “I was just in shock. I wasn’t sure if it was a real alligator or a toy.” 
 
 Castaneda called 911 to report the alligator, and Waukegan’s Animal Control responded. 
 
 The animal, which had its mouth taped shut, “was definitely on borrowed time,” said Rob Carmichael, curator for the Wildlife Discovery Center in Lake Forest, where the alligator is being taken. 
 
 “I would say it would be lucky if it lived another couple weeks,” Carmichael said. “Lake Michigan is only getting colder and colder each week.” 
 
 Carmichael said he and a veterinarian will assess the alligator’s condition once it arrives. 
 
 The city had initially reported the animal found as a caiman, which is similar to an alligator, but the Wildlife Discovery Center told the city later in the day Monday that it was an American alligator. 
 
 It is unknown how long the animal was in the water with its mouth taped shut, Carmichael added, saying the alligator looked to be on the thin side from what he has seen so far. 
 
 He expects the Discovery Center to know within three to five days how serious the situation is, but as long as there aren’t any major issues like a bacterial infection, Carmichael said he thinks they should be able to get the animal turned around. 
 
 City of Waukegan Nicole Garza, an animal warden for the city of Waukegan, rescues a 4-foot-long alligator that was discovered by a kayaker off Waukegan Harbor in Lake Michigan. Nicole Garza, an animal warden for the city of Waukegan, rescues a 4-foot-long alligator that was discovered by a kayaker off Waukegan Harbor in Lake Michigan. (City of Waukegan) 
 
 An investigation into whether the animal was abandoned, which is a crime, will “absolutely” be conducted, city spokesman David Motley said. 
 
 The abandoning of exotic animals is something that occurs less than it used to as a result of stepped-up state regulations around ownership of endangered or threatened animals, which require permits to own, Carmichael said. 
 
 The system seems to be working, because Carmichael hasn’t seen as many cases like what happened in Waukegan within the last five years, Carmichael said. 
 
 Another time an exotic animal was discovered in Waukegan was in September 2012 when a nearly 14-foot, fully grown Burmese python was found near Waukegan Harbor, according to News-Sun reports. The snake was euthanized due to its wounds the next day. 
 
 An alligator was also discovered in the Chicago River under the Belmont Avenue bridge in August 2010, according to a Chicago Tribune report from the time. 
 
 “There’s a lot more accountability built into the system,” Carmichael said. “It requires people to jump through hoops, and that’s a good thing. It leaves out the people who want to do it for the ‘oh, wow’ factor.” 
 
 Some dangerous animals, like lions, bears or coyotes, are illegal to own under the state’s Dangerous Animals Act. 
 
 emcoleman@tribpub.com 
 
 Twitter @mekcoleman ||||| A four-foot alligator was found in Lake Michigan on Oct. 8, 2018. A kayaker saw the alligator and called the police, who responded to the call with skepticism initially. (Photo: City of Waukegan) 
 
 The City of Waukegan, Illinois, confirmed via a Facebook post Monday that it pulled a 4-foot alligator from Lake Michigan. 
 
 The city said a kayaker saw the alligator swimming slowly in the Waukegan harbor area and called police. Waukegan Police Animal Control retrieved the alligator, which turned out to be an American alligator. The alligator was transferred to the Lake Forest Wildlife Discovery Center. 
 
 "These creatures are not indigenous. You can imagine the skepticism that came with it," said David Motley, the city's director of public relations. 
 
 Waukegan is about 54 miles south of Milwaukee. 
 
 Read or Share this story: https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/milwaukee/2018/10/08/alligator-found-swimming-lake-michigan-waukegan-illinios/1570025002/ ||||| Lake Buena Vista, Florida (CNN) A 2-year-old boy pulled by an alligator into a lagoon near a Walt Disney World hotel has been found dead, authorities said. 
 
 An Orange County dive team found Lane Graves' body intact about 1:45 p.m., not far from where he was grabbed Tuesday night, Sheriff Jerry Demings said Wednesday. 
 
 His body had only a few puncture wounds, according to a source familiar with the investigation. 
 
 "Of course, the autopsy has to confirm that, but there is likely no question in my mind that the child was drowned by the alligator," Demings said. 
 
 He said the body was found in 6 feet of murky water 10 to 15 yards from where the boy was attacked. 
 
 The fact that the body was found intact makes sense, said Jeff Corwin, host of "Ocean Mysteries" on ABC. 
 
 "That gator came in, grabbed that boy, pulled him, the dad startled that gator, the gator let him go and then the boy drowned," he said. 
 
 Alligators don't swim that far -- they sink into the murky water and lurk there -- which explains why the father did not see the boy when he jumped into the water to try and save him, Corwin said. 
 
 The boy's parents are from Elkhorn, Nebraska, and were identified as Matt and Melissa Graves. 
 
 "The Graves family appreciates the support they have received and have asked for privacy as they grieve the loss of their son," the sheriff's department tweeted. 
 
 Lane Graves 
 
 Matt Graves is the chief data officer at Omaha Infogroup, a company that provides technology solutions, CNN affiliate KETV reported. 
 
 Demings said the Graves were distraught yet relieved that this was not a protracted search. 
 
 He said he brought a priest with him when breaking the news to the parents, who are Catholic. 
 
 Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Executive Director Nick Wiley said the alligator may have already been caught, but that has not yet been confirmed. 
 
 "We're going to make certain that we have the alligator that was involved, and that we remove it from the lake," he said. 
 
 Unprovoked alligator attacks in Florida (1948-2016) 257 The number of attacks that required medical care 23 People who died as a result of those attacks 8 Number of children (16 and under) among the 23 deaths 1977 The year that saw the most attacks requiring medical care (13) 1 in 2.4 million The likelihood of a resident being seriously injured in an attack Source: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (as of April 2016) 
 
 Forensics teams will try to determine whether one of the alligators already taken from the lake is the one that dragged off the boy. If not, the search for alligators in the lake will continue. 
 
 The boy's family was at a movie night outdoors at the Grand Floridian resort when around 9 p.m. the boy waded into about a foot of water in a lagoon, authorities have said. Witnesses, including the boy's horrified parents, tried to save him. His father jumped in and tried to pry the gator's mouth open. His mother jumped in, too. 
 
 But it was too late. The child was dragged underwater in the Seven Seas Lagoon, witnesses told authorities. The lagoon is connected to a series of canals that feed into large bodies of water, Wiley said earlier. 
 
 The Reedy Creek emergency services call center first received a report about the attack at 9:16 p.m. 
 
 A search began for the boy immediately, with boats from Disney searching along with law enforcement. 
 
 By midmorning Wednesday, Disney had closed all beaches in its resort area "out of an abundance of caution" after the attack, a Disney representative said. 
 
 Wiley said the child was on the edge of the lagoon when the alligator attacked, according to the boy's family. He cautioned that the investigation is still in an early stage and officials need to interview at least two other families who may have witnessed the attack. 
 
 Demings specifically said the child was "wading ... along the lake's edge at the time that the alligator attacked." 
 
 CNN Map 
 
 Parents rush into water to save son 
 
 The father suffered minor scratches on his hand trying to save his son. 
 
 "No Swimming" signs are posted at the Disney resort. 
 
 Demings said there is no record of similar incidents in the area. 
 
 In Florida, alligators may be a common sight, but attacks are rare. If a human gets close to alligators, 99% of the time they take off, Corwin said. 
 
 A handful of people witnessed the attack and supplied police with information. Witnesses said the family was on the beach, and the boy's sister was in a playpen about 20 to 30 yards from the water, according to Demings. The toddler was nearby, wading in the water. 
 
 There are "No Swimming" signs at the lagoon, and no one but the child was in the water at the time of the attack, Demings said. 
 
 Declan Salcido, who was vacationing at the resort with relatives from San Jose, California, said the "No Swimming" signs are visible "from any vantage point." 
 
 The lagoon is not for recreational swimming. 
 
 "This is Florida, and it's not uncommon for alligators to be in bodies of water," Demings said. 
 
 While sheriff says site of #DisneyAlligator attack had "no swimming" signs, some ponds/lakes have gator warnings. pic.twitter.com/fp5R2HnurE — Eliott C. McLaughlin (@EliottCNN) June 15, 2016 
 
 A sign at a pond at the nearby Shades of Green resort says: "Florida is a natural wildlife habitat. Do not feed or go near the alligators." 
 
 Hot take: Is it really that difficult to keep your kid out of a lagoon clearly marked "NO SWIMMING"? #DisneyGatorAttack — Jae (@jae) June 15, 2016 
 
 Many on social media lambasted the child's parents, while others urged compassion. 
 
 Dear Internet, can we please have a bit more compassion for a family who saw their son dragged away by an alligator?!! #DisneyGatorAttack — Jamie Lapeyrolerie (@jamielynne82) June 15, 2016 
 
 Some people said a "No Swimming" sign is hardly sufficient if alligators could be lurking. 
 
 A "No Swimming" sign does not mean "Beware of Alligators" #DisneyGatorAttack — Katalyst InK (@FromtheKatsEye) June 15, 2016 
 
 Robert Vachon, who was at Disney on his honeymoon with his wife, Brianna Vachon, said from the window of the monorail the lagoon beach looked like it was in a dangerous area. 
 
 "I was wondering why it's not fenced off," Bachon said. 
 
 Unusual attack 
 
 "Everyone here at the Walt Disney Resort is devastated by this tragic accident," said Jacquee Wahler, a vice president at Walt Disney World Resort. "Our thoughts are with the family. We are helping the family and doing everything we can to assist law enforcement." 
 
 Demings said no reports of nuisance alligators have come in the region recently. The alligator is between 4 and 7 feet long, Demings said. 
 
 What to do if you see an alligator Always give these reptiles a respectful distance -- at least 10 feet -- and always leave them alone. 
 
 If you encounter an alligator outside its natural habitat, call the Nuisance Alligator Hotline: 1-866-FWC-GATOR (392-4286). 
 
 Alligators are nocturnal animals, more active during the night. After dark, avoid fresh and brackish bodies of water, though alligators sometimes lurk in salt water. Unprovoked bites will often occur at the edge of the water. 
 
 Never feed alligators; it encourages them to lose their natural fear of people. 
 
 Small animals, like pets, and small children are generally more at risk than large adults. 
 
 Female alligators protect their nests by hissing and opening their mouths; this does not mean they are preparing to attack. 
 
 Alligators under 4 feet in length are not considered a threat to humans. 
 
 The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission documented 383 unprovoked alligator bites between 1948 and 2016: 257 serious bites, with 23 resulting in death. 
 
 The frequency of serious bites is increasing at a rate of about 3% each year: one additional bite every four or five years. 
 
 Jeff Corwin, a noted national animal expert, said he was surprised this happened so close to a highly regulated area. Disney has many thousand acres. An alligator could make its way, undetected through some swamp and marsh into a lagoon near where people congregate. 
 
 When a gator bites down, his jaws snap closed with thousands of pounds of force, Corwin said. "I can't imagine the terror on these people's minds trying to manage this," he said. 
 
 Dino Ferri, director of the Central Florida Zoo, said a child would be a more enticing target than an adult, because of the grown-up's size. Alligators hunt food from just before sundown to sunrise, so they are very active around dusk. 
 
 As of April, only one other major alligator attack has been reported this year, according to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. That person survived the attack, but required medical care. 
 
 In 2015, there were nine major unprovoked attacks with one fatality. 
 
 Officials said Disney World has never experienced an incident like the one involving the boy. 
 
 The park has a full-time team that monitors the complex, and if they spot a potentially threatening animal they call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, which then responds. 
 
 "The story here is this is a tragedy and terrible, but it's a rare occurrence," Wiley said. "And fortunately it doesn't happen that often and we are doing everything we can to make sure it doesn't ever happen again." 
 
 Demings said it is rare to see alligators at the lagoon. He was asked by CNN's Erin Burnett if there should be alligator warning signs at the beach. 
 
 "In every tragedy there's an opportunity to learn from it and to make modifications," he said. 
 
 My hope is that sharing this story gets this family coverage and help in this horrible tragedy. Mother to mother- that is my only hope. I'm declining interviews but use whatever pictures and videos you need. I can't believe the sun is even up. #orlando #grandfloridian A photo posted by Katherine White Popp (@katherine_white_popp) on Jun 15, 2016 at 3:55am PDT 
 
 More than a million gators 
 
 There are an estimated 1.3 million alligators in Florida, said Arnold Brunell, a wildlife biologist and researcher for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. That number has been holding steady for the past five years, he said. 
 
 According to the wildlife commission's website, at least 23 people have been killed by Florida alligators since 1973. That includes several children. One was a 4-year-old girl who in 1988 was killed while walking along the edge of a lake in Charlotte County. Another was 10-year-old Bradley Weidenhamer, whose parents said they can relate to what Lane Graves' parents are going through. Bradley died when an alligator grabbed him and dragged him into the Loxahatchee River in Martin County, Florida, on June 20, 1993. 
 
 In that 43-year time frame, 373 people were bitten by alligators; 247 required medical care beyond simple first aid. 
 
 The week 
 
 It has been a tragic week for the Orlando area. A gunman massacred 49 people early Sunday at an Orlando gay club in the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history.
– A kayaker hoping to reel in some salmon on Lake Michigan instead found himself face-to-snout with a 4-foot alligator on Monday. David Castaneda was fishing off Waukegan Harbor when he spotted the reptile swimming slowly with its mouth taped shut, reports the Lake County News-Sun. "I was just in shock," says Castaneda, who sent authorities a video to confirm the alligator wasn't a toy. Once rescued, it was taken to Wildlife Discovery Center in Lake Forest, where officials hope to nurse it back to health. Though the animal's condition remains unclear, curator Rob Carmichael says the gator was thin and likely would've died within a couple of weeks as "Lake Michigan is only getting colder and colder." An effort is now being made to trace the foreigner; an investigation will examine whether the exotic animal was abandoned against the law, says city spokesman David Motley. "These creatures are not indigenous," he tells the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "You can imagine the skepticism that came with it."