City officials immediately set efforts in motion to apprehend him. The entire lake was cordoned off and several professional "gator wranglers" were hired. But despite a nearly three-month-long effort, Reggie managed to elude capture and began making fewer and fewer appearances until he seemed to disappear altogether. Until May 2007, Reggie was believed to be either in hibernation or dead. "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin pledged that if the gator ever re-emerged, he and his crew would go to the lake and attempt a capture.