A day after authorities said they had found an alligator in the back yard of a Valley Glen home, a second alligator wason Wednesday reported found about 5 miles away behind a house in Mission Hills.
The second gator was found in the 15300 block of Lassen Street (map) after Los Angeles animal control officers received information about the reptile having been abandoned in the rear yard of the home.
The house had an eviction notice posted, and the 2-1/2-foot alligator was in a large aquarium at the rear of the property, according to a news release from the Los Angeles Animal Services Department.
Though officers had information about a possible owner, that person’s ownership could not be confirmed and the individual was being sought for questioning.
An 8-foot-long alligator was discovered inside a wooden crate at a Van Nuys on Jan. 12, 2015. (Credit: Los Angeles Department of Animal Services)
The discovery of a reptile comes after Monday’s seizure of an 8-foot-long, 40-year-old American alligator from a home in Valley Glen. In that instance, two cat carcasses were found alongside the alligator in a covered box.
The owners had refused officers entry to the home, so a search warrant was obtained, authorities said in announcing the seizure of the first alligator on Wednesday.
The two incidents did not appear to be related, according to Los Angeles Animal Services. Criminal investigations were being conducted in both cases.
It is illegal to keep wildlife without a permit in Los Angeles, the Animal Services news release stated.
The second alligator was being held as “evidence” at the West Valley Animal Shelter and was not available for viewing. Los Angeles Zoo personnel were helping with the reptile’s care.
Anyone with information about the second alligator was asked to call Cmdr. Mark Salazar at 213-482-7455 or by email at mark.salazar@lacity.org.