State game officials were trying to catch a wily alligator Tuesday evening so it could be moved to a new location away from the public.

“It (an approximately 6-8 foot alligator) moved from its location yesterday (Monday) and was sighted again about one mile away from Riverside Landing,” said Capt. Fred Bain, District 2 supervisor for law enforcement for the Alabama Department of Conservation Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (formerly Game and Fish).

The alligator was spotted Monday morning in the slough at Riverside Landing along Depot Street. Game officials attempted to capture the reptile Monday night with a limb line, but were unsuccessful as it moved out of the slough to a new location.

Local residents spotted the elusive reptile at a slough near River Bend Apartments Tuesday morning, where it remained throughout the day.

“We have never had a report of injury from an alligator attack on Logan Martin Lake,” he said. “It is safe for people to use Riverside Landing, but they should use caution. I relate this to a poisonous snake in the water – you know they are there from time-to-time.”

Bain said the alligator might not return to Riverside Landing.

“If it hasn’t been fed by humans, it will generally depart when it sees a human get close,” Bain said. “Alligators have a natural fear of humans.”

Bain said in eight years, he estimated he personally took about 4-5 alligator calls.

“Most of the time, the alligators are in the 3-4 foot range,” he said. “Normally the gators don’t grow as large this far north, due to the cold weather. As far as I know, this is the largest alligator I’ve heard of or seen on the lake (Logan Martin Lake).”

Bain said state game officials were not able to get a good look at the alligator Monday.

“They saw it briefly when the alligator popped its head above water, but then it went under the water again,” he said. “It is hard to say how big it is until you get it out and measure it.”

Bain said an alligator in the same age class further south could be twice the size as the one here, because alligators in south Alabama and Florida can feed year-round. Alligators in this area are not very active during cold weather, and therefore do not typically grow as large.

“People in Florida live around these (alligators) all the time,” he said. “It is an element of nature we know is here.”

Bain said killing the alligator is an option, but there are circumstances to consider.

“We look at each case individually,” he said. “There are several factors involved, such as the means to kill it.”

Bain said factors such as danger in discharging a firearm near the public, how cooperative the alligator is (if it is trapped quickly or avoids the traps), and others affect the decision to trap or kill the alligator.

“The message we want to get out is that if you see a large alligator around an area it could be a danger, don’t feed it,” he said. “It becomes used to humans if it is fed, and will return to that area. It also loses its fear of humans, and may attack them or small pets or children.

“I don’t want people to think there is a strong possibility of it attacking humans. At this point, there is no reason to believe it has lost its fear of humans.”

Bain said he does not view this alligator as posing a threat to humans as long as people don’t feed it.

“In our past experience, we have never had a report of people or pets being attacked on the lake,” he said. “We don’t want to stir up a panic unnecessarily over one alligator.”

Bain emphasized caution when using the lake.

“If you see it, don’t try to catch it or antagonize it,” he said.

Bain said anyone who sees an alligator should call the Alabama Department of Conservation Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries District 2 office 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday at 256-435-1642 or after hours call the game watch number at 1-800-272-4263.